It was almost 200 years ago, after a day and night of relentless attack by the British in Baltimore, that the flag of the United States of America stood against the morning sky and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words to the "The Star-Spangled Banner." I recently saw two widely varied interpretations of our national anthem. One was a beautifully arranged choral production by The Baltimore Choral Arts Chamber Chorus which included the not-often heard second stanza.

The United States House Representatives unanimously passed Resolution 1582 by voice vote: "Honoring and saluting Americans for the Arts on its 50th anniversary." The House Resolution was sponsored by Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), longtime Congressional Arts Caucus Co-Chair, along with 28 co-sponsors including a number of Representatives who spoke on its behalf: Rep. Todd Platts (R-PA) Co-Chair of the Congressional Arts Caucus, Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), Rep.

Four Americans for the Arts Advisory Councils-€”Public Art Network Council, Emerging Leader Council, Arts Education Council, and Private Sector Council-€”are currently seeking nominations for new council members to serve three year terms from January 1, 2011-€“December 30, 2013.

Nominate yourself or a colleague. Nominations must be received by 8:00 p.m. EDT on October 5, 2010.

Labor Day has come and gone again with all its incongruities. It is a day when we celebrate laborers and the work ethic... by taking a day off. It's a national day of leisure where we heap well-deserved praise on workers, many of them working all around us, many of them right there working to help us enjoy this very national holiday.