Suzie Edwards, a 9-year-old fourth grader at Boothbay Region Elementary School, has been singing the “Star-Spangled Banner” for several years. She has sung the national anthem before several local high school basketball games, garnering much praise from locals and visitors alike. She sings the anthem with pride.

On Saturday night, before a crowd of perhaps 1,000-plus people at the Augusta Civic Center, Suzie sang the anthem flawlessly. No shaking in her shoes, no missed words and with conviction. Following her performance, former BRHS teacher/coach and tournament announcer Nate Rende smiled and gave Suzie a high five. Of course, the Boothbay fans cheered, but looking across the court, fans from opposing communities were cheering just as loud for her rendition.

Those who follow high school sports, specifically high school tournament basketball, know about Kalle Oakes, award-winning sportswriter for the Lewiston Sun Journal. He gives out his annual “Kalle Awards” at the end of each tournament. In his “Kalle Awards” column this week, he writes, in part: “Best anthem: Susie Edwards, 9, Boothbay. She hit it so far out of the park ... that it gave me chills. She didn’t countrify or ‘American Idol’ the song beyond recognition. She sang it with reverence from her soul. It was pure, simple and beautiful.” Kalle also picked the Boothbay-Monmouth game as the best girls game and chose Page Brown and Faith Blethen for his all-tournament team.

Now the sour note. Suzie’s dad, Steve, who now works for this company, was informed that Suzie shouldn’t have been allowed to sing the anthem, that Maine Principal’s Association rules don’t allow someone as young as her to perform the anthem.

Over the past two days, a war has been waged by Steve and many of his friends on Facebook, via emails and phone calls, to get the MPA rule changed. TV media, local school administrators and State Representative Stephanie Hawke have been involved. In fact, Suzie has been invited by Hawke to sing the anthem in the State House on March 3.

Let’s hope reality sets in and the MPA will change the rule somehow to allow such a talent as Suzie Edwards .... remember the name ... to sing before a tournament basketball game.

To be continued...