Mainer Looking Over the Star Spangled Banner
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2002–Groups of people stroll by an old and tattered flag on exhibit. One asks in a half-interested condition, “What’s the big deal?”
Marilyn Zoidis steps out and explains in her best, animated story-telling voice the significance of the original Star Spangled Banner.
To Bangor native Zoidis, curator of the Star Spangled Banner exhibit at the Smithsonian National American History Museum, history is at the same level as a good Stephen King novel.
“Even growing up, I used to go in my room and read history books like novels,” Zoidis said. “I read the new John Adams biography and cried when Abigail died and for the alcoholic sons. I understood John’s pain. I am sick.”
Back in her office, Zoidis shows off her coastal Maine paintings and a map of Bangor. University of Maine mugs and a few local history books crowd her shelves. Zoidis began her history obsession back in a living room on Sunday afternoons. She would sit in front of the television with her father Peter and watch shows like “Meet the Press” and “Big Picture” for hours on end. She would become mesmerized by the historic footage, the military uniforms of the time periods and the futility of the battle.
“I was only seven or eight years-old and I was captivated by this idea of war and it’s long-term implications,” Zoidis said.
Her father had served in World War II, and the war stories seemed incredible to her.
She still has her father’s old college history textbooks sitting on her bookshelf.
Growing up, she worked in her father’s restaurant, Pilot’s Grill, typing the menus in the back room. Former Senator William Cohen’s father, Reuben, worked as a baker and would bring bread to her father’s restaurant daily.
“He would bring me a fresh, baked roll everyday,” Zoidis said. “It’s funny what a small world it is.”
History has always been a thread connecting all the steps of her career.
Zoidis had taught history at Bangor High School, and had worked as director of the Bangor Historical Society and Freeport Historical Society in the late ’80s.
Years later, at age 52, Zoidis now works as curator and historian at the Smithsonian museum, working closely on the Star Spangled Banner exhibit and the September 11 exhibit. She has degrees in both education and history. She still visits Maine a few times a year, to go sailing and to celebrate the holidays with friends and family. The magnitude of her job still hasn’t hit her yet.
“Everyday I drive into work, and I pass by the Jefferson, Lincoln and Washington memorials. I make it a point to remind myself of where I am and what a special time it is,” Zoidis said.
She still hasn’t gotten quite used to the attention she garners and her eyes still light up at the very mention of celebrity figures such as Colin Powell and Senator Bob Dole.
“When Bob Dole came to take a tour of the flag exhibit, he was so respectful, saying hello to everyone,” Zoidis said. “He didn’t even put on airs when people asked him questions. He would say, ‘You’ll have to ask Marilyn that.’”
She receives confidential memos from the White House when the President and the First Lady want to make appearances.
“It’s so elaborate. They give directions on where everybody should be every second. They need to get clearance on everyone and they send the dogs in,” Zoidis said. “There are Secret Service looming everywhere.”
Zoidis’ charm stems from her fairness– she doesn’t treat anyone differently. Everyone from the security guard in the Smithsonian elevator to the President of the United States gets treated with kindness. This year, she received two big awards from the Smithsonian-The director’s award for outstanding contributions and the peer award. She spoke about the peer award most fondly.
Valeska Hilbig, Smithsonian public affairs specialist, said that Marilyn is a very popular Smithsonian staff member to talk to.
“I have never seen more people interested in any of our staff,” Hilbig said. “So many people want to come to talk to Marilyn.”
“When you know your colleagues notice your contributions, it’s such a great feeling,” Zoidis said.
Zoidis had never figured she knew so many people until she went on television to support the flag exhibit.
“After I did the Today Show, I heard from people I hadn’t heard from in ages,” Zoidis said happily. “The only thing with television is, I will never master the thing in the ear.”
Zoidis is working on co-writing a book called “For Which it Stands: The American Flag in American Life,” along with the head conservator of the project, Suzanne Thomassen-Krauss. She hopes to educate people on many of the flag myths that simply aren’t true.
“First off, Betsy Ross didn’t make the first flag, and I want to blow that message right out of the water,” Zoidis said. “Also, not many people know the Star Spangled Banner was written to the tune of a British drinking song.”
While Zoidis has enjoyed taking part in the interpretation of an incredible American icon, she refuses to even touch the flag, leaving it up to the conservators. When she was offered to cut a stitch from the wool backing of the flag, she politely refused.
“I use scotch tape to keep my hems up,” Zoidis said matter-of-factly. “When they asked me to cut a stitch on the flag I said no. I’d probably cut the flag.”
Zoidis has also co-written a book on local Maine history called “Woodsmen and Whigs: Historic Images of Bangor,” with a prelude by Senator Cohen.
“I’m just a kid from Bangor, Maine who never thought she’d end up at the Smithsonian,” Zoidis said with a grin. “I really had no plan. I just love what I do.”
Published in The Kennebec Journal and The Morning Sentinel, in Maine.
