TV-Stations to Bring Back Tradition of Airing National Anthem at the End of Daily Broadcasts

A number of television stations in Alabama are planning on bringing back an old tradition. The stations will start airing the National Anthem at the end of their daily broadcasts.

Gray Television stations are going to start broadcasting “The Star-Spangled Banner” as part of their daily lineup. They will be joining other stations across the nation that intend on bringing back the tradition.

Birmingham’s WBRC Fox 6 News, Huntsville’s WAFF 48, Dothan’s WTVY-TV, and Montgomery’s WSFA 12 will all be taking part in Alabama. WBRC Fox6 and WSFA will play the National Anthem shortly before 4 a.m. daily from next Tuesday.

On Monday’s WAFF 48 will do the same after the 10 p.m. newscast. However, this television station intends on fitting in the anthem after the noon newscast on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

"It’s important to honor those who sacrificed so much."

It will also play immediately after the 4:30 a.m. newscast on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Plus you can expect to hear it before the start of the 5 a.m. newscast on Saturdays and Sundays.

Every morning at 5 a.m, WTVY will air anthem. They also plan on showing the anthem during other newscasts on certain special days like July 4.

On Friday, Live 5 WCSC will start playing the national anthem early every morning. The day they’ve chosen to relaunch the tradition also happens to be Flag Day.

Explaining the decision in a statement WBRC Vice President and General Manager, Collin R. Gaston said:

“Alabamians are proud of this country, and of the men and women who serve or have served for us. We live in the land of the free and the home of the brave, and it’s important to honor those who sacrificed so much to allow WBRC FOX6 News these liberties.”

Gaston added:

“That’s why I am proud WBRC will be joining other stations in the Gray Television family and broadcast the national anthem each and every day.”

The National Anthem was a daily staple on television before stations switched to 24-hour operations in the 1980s. WBRC noted that playing the anthem was a tradition that made American’s aware that the stations were going off air for the day.

The station would then return on air the following morning. The above-mentioned stations are part of around 93 Gray markets across the country that has announced the change.

ABC12 will join Gray in having the anthem sung by singer Reina Özbay, 9. The background will feature patriotic landscapes and American’s of different ethnicities. The little girl from Florida started singing when she was just four.

She had her first guest-starring role at her current age where she appeared as Abilene in “The Chosen.” Özbay is currently studying opera and musical theater.

“The Star-Spangled Banner’s” lyrics came from a poem named the “Defence of Fort M'Henry.” It was written by lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key, then-35, on September 14, 1814.

He wrote the poem after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by British ships of the Royal Navy in Baltimore Harbor. Key’s words were inspired by the large US flag, the 15 stars, and 15 stripes.

At the time he witnessed the Star-Spangled Banner flying victoriously above the fort during the US victory.