When I moved to the Village seventeen years ago, I bought a thermometer for the bedroom window – the kind you press on. It has always kept the best weather listings of any of the bigger, more expensive ones. Last week’s heat wave did it in, and it came partly unstuck and landed upside down – a victim of the worst weather we’ve had yet this year.

Newtown is expecting a very large flag for its Labor Day parade festivities. The town and many people in surrounding areas have a special and everlasting interest and pride in flags; especially its own lofty national colors which fly from the widely known pole on Main Street. By custom and practice, Lt David Lydem of the Police Department is guardian, caretaker and careful custodian of Newtown’s Stars and Stripes.

It was 187 years ago this month that the country’s national anthem was born when the flag flying over Fort McKinley in Baltimore withstood the British landing force that went ashore from Chesapeake Bay headed for “Washington City.” The troops marched inland on a humid August night, burned the Capitol and a number of other buildings, then marched to the bay and attacked the important seaport. Angry Americans rallied to defend the fort, augmented by troops from Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The British were holding a prominent prisoner whose friends rallied to obtain his release, including one Francis Scott Key, who managed to convince the British to release their prisoner who had provided medical care to British troops. It was agreed he would be set free but must remain in custody while the battle raged against Baltimore. The Americans rallied and their large flag was still flying over the fort as the British troops began to pull back.

Francis Scott Key liked to scribble poetry, and was thrilled to see our American flag still there as dawn broke over Fort McKinley. He wrote the words to “The “Star Spangled Banner,” which is the anthem American’s use for many memorable occasions. When its red, white and blue colors are raised high over the winner of the Olympic competition, for instance, there are not too many dry eyes to be seen!

The flag at Fort McKinley, now in the possession of the Smithsonian Institute, has been the victim of age. It is being cleared and refurbished in a large room by a team of conservationists. Inch by inch, they carefully work on this national treasure. The project is supposed to be finished in 2002. This, too, is a giant flag, ordered for Fort McKinley by Major George Armistead to be large enough to be seen from a distance.

The national anthem, I am told, is a difficult song to sing. There have been times in recent years that is has been poorly sung and dishonored by accompanying motions in poor taste. Anyone invited to sing the song at any public occasion should be admonished to sing it properly, with respect, and sing the tune the way it is written – not jazzed up or slurred into an unrecognizable mess. It is something many of us feel strongly about.

As I write this column, it is a dark and dreary day – a little cooler, but no chance of any sun and a drying off from early showers. The hummingbird arrived at the syrup feeder at 6:30 am. Not many flowers are blooming nearby, and he returned many times to have “breakfast.” Two woodpeckers are at the new suet cake and a pair of robins are looking hopefully for worms or bugs in the grass.

Last week the column ended with words by Shakespeare, from Hamlet.

Who said, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Then quit. No sense being a damn fool about it.”