Second Saturday Series

The Second Saturday Series is presented on the second Saturday of each month. Speakers present on a wide variety of topics from York County’s 270 years of history including people, places, and events that have had local, regional, or national impact. Most programs are held in the Meeting Hall at the Historical Society Museum and begin at 10:30. If any program is at a different location or time that will be noted under the title of the program. Attending any of these presentations is free and open to the public.

July’s speaker will be: John Maietta.

A native of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, John Maietta Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired), went on to pursue a lifelong public relations career in 2010. For many years he operated a successful free-lance business in the Harrisburg area, while simultaneously serving as a serving as a public affairs officer with the Pennsylvania National Guard. Starting in 2002, he completed numerous active-duty assignments with the U.S. Army, including long-term deployments to Bosnia, Kosovo, Germany, and Iraq. In 2014 he received a master’s degree in applied history from Shippensburg University. He later taught introductory courses in world history at Shippensburg and York College of Pennsylvania. His popular presentations on history and culture have been featured at many libraries, retirement centers, and other venues throughout the region.

Topic: Much loved by Americans today, The Star-Spangled Banner long held a disputed place in our country’s civic life.  During its first hundred years, patriots and teetotalers condemned the song for its musical roots in a British drinking ballad.  Later, it vied with other popular songs for designation as our official national anthem – an honor not finally achieved until 1931.  This tune-filled program explores these and many other facets of the colorful history and enduring meaning behind The Star-Spangled Banner.