Ridgewood’s Fourth of July festivities to highlight Star-Spangled Banner

In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the writing of the Star-Spangled Banner, Ridgewood’s Fourth of July festivities will kick off with a version of the song not usually heard – all four verses – and an interpretive dance accompaniment.

When the Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration Committee approached Yendi Anderson, secretary for the Ridgewood Division of Engineering, about singing the National Anthem, dancing was not part of the deal.

But the village employee said her research of the song’s history moved her to perform the music as well.

In 1814, Francis Scott Key was inspired to write what would become the National Anthem as he watched the 15-star, 15-stripe American flag fly over Fort McHenry in the aftermath of an attack of the Baltimore harbor during the War of 1812.

“Some of the soldiers that were held were praying that the flag would never touch the ground,” Anderson said, retelling what she had learned. “When some of the soldiers died, others would come and keep the flag up. It’s a very, very powerful story … and some things are better expressed through dance.”