"Columbia, The Gem of the Ocean" vs. "The Star-Spangled Banner"

At the Olympic stadium, national anthems were being played for award ceremonies. The Greek bandmaster had selected "Yankee Doodle," which was deemed inappropriate.
A U.S. Navy bandmaster was summoned, and he declared that the United States didn't have an official national anthem, so he suggested two songs. He enthusiastically sang the first verse of "Columbia, The Gem of the Ocean," then played "a song that's been getting popular"--"The Star-Spangled Banner"(!) The Greek bandmaster left it up to his assistant to pick the "most appropriate" song from the sheet music. Weighing the two, the assistant selected "The Star-Spangled Banner" as "appropriate" for the award ceremony. I remember this little scene because the Greek bandmaster was visibly discomfited by his assistant's choice when the band played it the first time. (He'd preferred "Columbia, The Gem of the Ocean.) But it "grew on him" the more times he had the band play it.;)