--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always been really nationalistic…" description: "\"I've always been really nationalistic, and I had a brother killed in Korea. And I think the 'Star Spangled Banner,' even today - and I've heard it a he..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/jerry-west-7315_always_i-ve-always-been-really-nationalistic-an_28059.jpg" --- # I've always been really nationalistic, and I had a brother… ![“I've always been really nationalistic, and I had a brother killed in Korea. And I think the 'Star Spangled Banner,' even today - and I've heard it a heckuva lot of times, OK - has always been a significant feeling to me.” quote by Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/jerry-west-7315_always_i-ve-always-been-really-nationalistic-an_28059.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/jerry-west-7315_always_i-ve-always-been-really-nationalistic-an_28059.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/jerry-west-7315_always_i-ve-always-been-really-nationalistic-an_28059.jpg) > “I've always been really nationalistic, and I had a brother killed in Korea. And I think the 'Star Spangled Banner,' even today - and I've heard it a heckuva lot of times, OK - has always been a significant feeling to me.” [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A personal reflection on how patriotic symbols can evoke deep emotional resonance, especially when tied to personal loss and national identity. **In simple terms:** Patriotic symbols stir personal emotions. Key Takeaway Symbols can embody personal and collective grief. Themes Patriotism Memory Loss Identity Emotion Mood Nostalgic Reflective Somber Type Personal anecdote Historical reflection When to use this quote - Remembering fallen relatives - National ceremonies - Public performances Key Concepts Symbolic meaning Personal narrative Practical Applications - Motivational speeches - Veterans' memorials Questions to Reflect On - How do personal experiences shape our perception of national symbols? - Can patriotism be both comforting and painful? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Nationalistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nationalistic/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [“The singing triggers a soft detonation at his core, molten parts of him are flying everywhere and his ears ring to the tune of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/the-singing-triggers-a-soft-detonation-at-his-core-molten-parts-of/) [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) > [One of my earliest memories... I knew three full verses of the Star Spangled Banner when I was seven or eight years old. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-van-ronk/one-of-my-earliest-memories-i-knew-three-full-verses-of-the-star/) [Dave Van Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-van-ronk/) > [ “\[...\] I'd wake up in the middle of the night to the Star-Spangled Banner and some old film of a flag blowing in the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-montoure/i-d-wake-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night-to-the-star-spangled-banner/) [Michael Montoure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-montoure/) > [And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave/O're the land of the free and the home of the brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-scott-key/and-the-star-spangled-banner-in-triumph-shall-wave-o-re-the-land-of/) [Francis Scott Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-scott-key/) > [When Ronald Reagan was elected I was on a bus traveling with a band in France. I wrote a little arrangement of The Star…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-bley/when-ronald-reagan-was-elected-i-was-on-a-bus-traveling-with-a-band/) [Carla Bley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-bley/) > [“Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-scott-key/oh-say-can-you-see-by-the-dawn-s-early-light-what-so-proudly-we-2/) [Francis Scott Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-scott-key/) > [I can remember standing in the middle of the field after the race and seeing the American flag raised and hearing 'The Star Spangled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-robinson-schwartz/i-can-remember-standing-in-the-middle-of-the-field-after-the-race-and/) Elizabeth Robinson Schwartz > [I learned 'The Star-Spangled Banner,' the national anthem. I always wanted to play it before the Bulls game, but I always thought, like, Coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-butler/i-learned-the-star-spangled-banner-the-national-anthem-i-always/) [Jimmy Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-butler/) > [“In the afternoon the ship's company assembled aft, on deck, under the awnings; the flute, the asthmatic meodeon, and the consumptive clarinet crippled the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/in-the-afternoon-the-ship-s-company-assembled-aft-on-deck-under-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I've got so much brass up my ass that I can play the Star Spangled Banner. -Capt. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bad-boys-2/i-ve-got-so-much-brass-up-my-ass-that-i-can-play-the-star-spangled/) [Bad Boys 2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bad-boys-2/) > [Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed as the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-scott-key/oh-say-can-you-see-by-the-dawn-s-early-light-what-so-proudly-we/) [Francis Scott Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-scott-key/) > [“Nearly everyone here is Irish, or Italian or Russian. But everyone displays their Star Spangled Banner in some prominent spot on their house and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-h-thomson/nearly-everyone-here-is-irish-or-italian-or-russian-but-everyone/) [L.H. Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-h-thomson/) > [“The night of September the 14th, 1814, saw heavy bombardment of Baltimore by the British. Despite this, the next morning, the large American flag…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/the-night-of-september-the-14th-1814-saw-heavy-bombardment-of/) [Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/) > [Remembering growing up on U.S. Army bases stateside and abroad, the Star-Spangled Banner was played at important occasions... and often. It was the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/remembering-growing-up-on-u-s-army-bases-stateside-and-abroad-the/) [Harris Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/) > [Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just, And this be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/praise-the-power-that-hath-made-and-preserved-us-a-nation-then/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) ## More by Jerry West > [As you get older, every chance to win a championship is more crucial, because you are going to have less and less of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/as-you-get-older-every-chance-to-win-a-championship-is-more-crucial/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [Many people, men in particular, just can't not be active. I guess our minds demand that we seek other challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/many-people-men-in-particular-just-can-t-not-be-active-i-guess-our/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [I don't live in the past. And besides, there are too many times in my career to remember specific events, because I played so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/i-don-t-live-in-the-past-and-besides-there-are-too-many-times-in-my/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [You can't ever totally know what's inside of someone else, or see the kind of will someone like Magic has. You have to rely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/you-can-t-ever-totally-know-what-s-inside-of-someone-else-or-see-the/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [“Suddenly Sue shrieked as only four-year-old girls can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/suddenly-sue-shrieked-as-only-four-year-old-girls-can/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [The support this city and our fans have shown the Grizzlies made my decision to stay in Memphis an easy one. Memphis deserves a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/the-support-this-city-and-our-fans-have-shown-the-grizzlies-made-my/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [I always wanted the ball in my hands with a game on the line, as I think any real competitor does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/i-always-wanted-the-ball-in-my-hands-with-a-game-on-the-line-as-i/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [Some guys lay their fannies out there every night - they play the game at such a high level, and they give so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/some-guys-lay-their-fannies-out-there-every-night-they-play-the-game/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [You need to possess more than a little nastiness to play basketball at the highest level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/you-need-to-possess-more-than-a-little-nastiness-to-play-basketball/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [Personalities seem in many cases to dominate the lucrative endorsement market. But that doesn't upset me. What upsets me is when not enough attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/personalities-seem-in-many-cases-to-dominate-the-lucrative/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [You get so addicted to winning that you don't want that feeling to stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/you-get-so-addicted-to-winning-that-you-don-t-want-that-feeling-to/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [We talk about players of yesteryear, guys who could play or couldn't play, and I think it's ridiculous to try to even compare people...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/we-talk-about-players-of-yesteryear-guys-who-could-play-or-couldn-t/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [As a player all you can do is play within yourself, even in the context of a team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/as-a-player-all-you-can-do-is-play-within-yourself-even-in-the/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [There's been so many unbelievable players in Los Angeles, maybe the best of the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/there-s-been-so-many-unbelievable-players-in-los-angeles-maybe-the/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [It's discouraging for me to come out there and watch the lack of fan support for a good team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/it-s-discouraging-for-me-to-come-out-there-and-watch-the-lack-of-fan/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) [Explore all 92 Jerry West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always been really nationalistic, and I had a brother killed in Korea. 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