Sherwood Oaks honors A250 with the History Hobo
CRANBERRY TWP — There is almost no evidence that Betsy Ross designed the American flag, shares “the History Hobo,” retired history teacher and traveling historian Steve Cicero.
It’s believed that Francis Scott Key actually did intend the original Star-Spangled Banner poem to be sung to the tune of a British tavern song, Cicero added.
Cicero introduced historical research and nuance into the conversation about the American flag and the composing of the national anthem during his one-hour “Stars and Stripes Forever” presentation July 1 at Cranberry Township retirement community Sherwood Oaks.
Cicero was invited to speak at the facility ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary this July 4. Between 50 and 60 residents came to the Sherwood Oaks auditorium to learn more about how the modern American flag and national anthem came to be.
“I like to see what (Sherwood Oaks) is doing to celebrate (America 250). I go to any event, I can,” longtime Sherwood Oaks resident Ruth Becker said. “I like to learn things. I sure learned a lot today.”
Cicero, who has been doing programs since 2016, said that he is always interested in the story behind the story, putting together the history that he taught in school with additional research he has done during his retirement.
“I’m a lifelong learner,” Cicero said. “That is the service I offer.”
While Cicero doesn’t aim to say things that cast bad light on Betsy Ross, she is a part of the story, he said, “it’s just there’s more to (the history) than meets the eye.”
“There’s a little substance to the origin of this Star-Spangled Banner than we think about,” he said.
After his presentation, residents had the opportunity to ask Cicero any lingering questions that they had.
One resident even asked about the proper way to retire a deteriorated flag in Butler County, to which Cicero recommended the American Legion as a place to go to.
“He knew the facts and introduced many new areas that I was unaware of,” resident Jan Lipchak said. “His presentation was clear, and it was to the point.”
Lipchak also appreciated how the presentation was balanced.
“It wasn’t political in the idea that it was one side or another,” she said, “because there were so many factors involved with who sided with whom.”
Eight-year resident David Gieschen, 92, said that the committee that welcomes programs like Cicero’s is very active and does a “very nice job” bringing in events and entertainers.
Sherwood Oaks consists of 270 residences (single story garden patio homes and apartments), 38 rooms for personal care residence, 4 personal care suites, a 30-room center for the care of memory-impaired persons and a 43-bed health-care facility, according to its 2025 October disclosure statement.
