Band director apologizes after playing Nazi anthem

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Oct 1, 2003

DALLAS (AP) -- A high school band director has apologized for a halftime performance that included "Deutschland ber Alles," the anthem closely associated with Adolf Hitler, and a student running across the field with a Nazi flag.

Charles Grissom, Paris High School's band director, said his intention was to have a historical performance featuring the flags and music of the nations that fought during World War II.

The show, titled "Visions of World War II," nearly caused a melee at Friday night's football game at Dallas' Hillcrest High School.

"We were booed," Grissom said Monday. "We had things thrown at us. We were cursed."