WTOP visited Washington, D.C.'s Union Station to find out if visitors could belt out the national anthem of the United States, as well as quiz them on their July 4 knowledge.
WASHINGTON 鈥� The Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem of the United States. Can you sing it?
Downtown in Washington, D.C. - Union Station displays the Stars and Stripes for Independence Day. WTOP asked some passersby there on Monday to sing the National Anthem and take a quiz. (WTOP/Kristi King)
Downtown in Washington, D.C. - Union Station displays the Stars and Stripes for Independence Day. WTOP asked some passersby there on Monday to sing the National Anthem and take a quiz. (WTOP/Kristi King)
These people WTOP encountered at Union Station gave it a shot:
Union Station visitors sing The Star-Spangled Banner
You might not realize it but the anthem actually goes on for three more versus. The version you’re used to hearing at ball games is only the first part of the song.
So, how good are you at basic Independence Day trivia?
Union Station visitors try their hand at July 4 trivia
When quizzing people about the holiday, Giani Parker of Edgewater, New Jersey told WTOP her family doesn鈥檛 celebrate the Fourth of July.
鈥淣ot everybody was free then,鈥� Parker said. 鈥淎nd people still aren鈥檛 free today, so there鈥檚 no sense celebrating it.鈥�
Overhearing that conversation, Deonne Minto of Fort Lauderdale, Florida said she agrees.
鈥淭here are a lot of people who can鈥檛 take advantage of all the liberties that America claims to have,鈥� Minto said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e not free. They can鈥檛 enjoy that life because of economic depravity, or they鈥檝e been locked out of the system.鈥�
Downtown in Washington, D.C.: Union Station displays the Stars and Stripes for Independence Day. WTOP asked some passersby there on Monday to sing the National Anthem and take a quiz.
(WTOP/Kristi King)
WTOP/Kristi King
Giani Parker of Edgewater, New Jersey is in D.C. visiting her daughter, pictured with Deonne Minto of Fort Lauderdale, Florida – the women discussed how the National Anthem’s “land of the free” wasn’t free for everyone when it was written because of slavery.
(WTOP/Kristi King)
WTOP/Kristi King
Extended family: Members of the Hassanpour, Toland and Cerdas families are on a two week visit to D.C. from Alabama.
(WTOP/Kristi King)
WTOP/Kristi King
From Orlando, Florida, Rob Stead is with his children David and Jessica. They were at Union Station vising Stead’s uncle who works there.
(WTOP/Kristi King)
WTOP/Kristi King
Coming to Washington, D.C. to see fireworks is on the bucket list of these friends who frequently traveled together: Pat, Tony and Ann of Sloatsburg, New York.
(WTOP/Kristi King)
WTOP/Kristi King
Cyp Wilfred of Las Vegas, Nevada sings the National Anthem with his children, some of whom live in Nebraska.
(WTOP/Kristi King)
Kristi King is a veteran reporter who has been working in the WTOP newsroom since 1990. She covers everything from breaking news to consumer concerns and the latest medical developments.
