Indiana college trades 'Star-Spangled Banner' for 'America the Beautiful'

GOSHEN, Ind. — A small college in northern Indiana with ties to the Mennonite Church plans to play “America the Beautiful” at sporting events as a replacement for the national anthem.

Goshen College's leaders decided in June to quit playing an instrumental version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” after starting to do so for the first time last year. Some students and graduates complained images of war and the military in the song's lyrics weren't in line with the school's pacifist message.

College President Jim Brenneman wrote in a letter posted on the school's website that “America the Beautiful” is more fitting with the college's traditions while also honoring the country. He also said it is an appropriate alternative because most sports fans know the song and it is played at many Major League Baseball games and other events.

“The words of ‘America the Beautiful' are wonderfully descriptive of creation's beauty in the heartland, in the coastlands and in urban and rural settings,” Brenneman said. “They petition God's gracious blessing upon America.”

The 1,000-student private college founded in 1894 began playing the national anthem, followed by a peace prayer, before sporting events in March 2010 and said at the time it would review the practice after a year. Intercollegiate athletics, the traditional venue for the anthem, began at Goshen in 1957.

Brenneman said the use of “America the Beautiful” will begin with sports events this fall and that the U.S. flag will be present.

Goshen College officials said they received hundreds of calls and emails after the decision to stop playing the national anthem, with many critics considering the move unpatriotic.