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For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryJune 14, 2003 President's Radio Address      Audio THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. June 14th is Flag Day, which commemorates the date in 1777 when the Continental Congress officially made the Stars and Stripes the symbol of America. The founders declared that the 13 stars gracing the original flag represented "a new constellation," just as America represented new hope and new light for mankind. Over the past 226 years, our flag has been a symbol of freedom wherever it flies. It inspires hope in people suffering under tyranny or terror. It welcomes immigrants from every land...

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Blazers beat Dallas 98-79 in Game 4 of their NBA playoff series on Sunday, but that's not the only thing Portland head coach Maurice Cheeks had to be proud of. Prior to the game, Cheeks went to the rescue of 13-year-old Natalie Gilbert, who froze up and forgot the words to the national anthem before a nationally televised audience. Video: National Anthem Amnesia After she faltered and shot a pleading look toward the sideline, Cheeks went to her side and began to sing the song with her. Despite the fact that he was off-key and couldn't...

(April 28) - Portland Trail Blazers coach Maurice Cheeks may not be able to carry a tune. But, to one young singer, his is the voice of an angel. Natalie Gilbert was selected to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at a nationally televised NBA Western Conference playoff game Friday night. She took her place alone at midcourt as the crowd that packed Portland's Rose Garden Arena stood in excitement and anticipation. The 13-year-old did fine for the first few lines. Then, somewhere around the "twilight's last gleaming," she forgot the words. She closed her eyes and shook her head. She appeared...

I seem to remember going to baseball games when I was younger, and the announcer would say: "Ladies and Gentlemen, please rise and join us in singing the National Anthem" Thousands of citizens rose from their seats, hands over their hearts, and no matter who was performing, mostly all would sing along. Tall and short, old and young, loud and soft, talented and tone deaf - it didn't matter - the crescendo of voices blending across the stadium was inspiring, and adding my own developing voice to this patriotic choir was a joyful, and a character building experience. Or maybe...

"The Star Spangled Banner" might be sung and Old Glory might be waved on the UC Berkeley campus during a remembrance ceremony on Sept. 11 -- just don't expect campus organizers to encourage that sort of thing. "Flags promote nationalism," says Graduate Assembly president Jessica Quindel, one of the people responsible for picking student speakers for the main show at Sproul Plaza at noon. "We are steering away from singing the national anthem or handing out red, white and blue ribbons because they are political and exclusionary." The decision to exclude the flag and anthem from the official remembrance program...

Let's defend our national anthem. Having been born in a foreign country, I delighted myself going to the U.S. embassy to stare at the marines that stood guard in full dress uniform. In the summertime my parents would take the family to the mountains, but once every 4 years I had another glimpse at America. I would faithfully watch the finals for all olympic events, so as not to miss the playing of the American anthem. As I stared at the U.S. flag I could wishful dream that it was mine!Let's move forward some 30 years to today. I was...

Cup final delayed as anthem booed The start of the French cup final has been delayed for 20 minutes after the national anthem was booed by some spectators. An angry President Jacques Chirac demanded an apology. He ordered the game be halted until the French Football Federation apologised. "It's inadmissible and unacceptable ... (that) France be humiliated by a gesture of this nature," said Chirac, who was present for the match between Lorient and Bastia. The two teams returned to the dressing room for about 20 minutes. Federation president Claude Simonet said his organisation "presents its apologies to France because...

Raptors stand on guard for Canadian anthem By LORI EWING -- Canadian Press TORONTO -- Childish. Stupid. Lacking in class. The Toronto Raptors, every one an American, had nothing good to say about fans who booed O Canada in Detroit on Sunday night. Game 1 of the opening playoff round between the Raptors and the Detroit Pistons took a nasty turn before the game had even begun on Sunday, when the capacity crowd at the The Palace of Auburn Hills booed O Canada. "That was pretty sad," Raptor forward Jerome Williams said after practice Monday. "That was something I wouldn't...