What Does The National Anthem Mean To You?

I certainly don't want to get into politics, but apparently, the national anthem means different things to different people.

I always thought of the national anthem as being a song about the creation of America and our forefathers who sacrificed to build this country.  I never saw it/heard it as anything else. I'm not getting how people are reading different things into it. When you read the lyrics, it does seem to be about one particular battle.

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

(read the full version here)

Now some people seem to think it has something to do with veterans or loyalty or something, and I still don't get that. I always just thought it was about giving thanks for the creation of this country.  I am very thankful to live in America and I put my hand on my heart whenever I hear the national anthem, but I certainly don't recognize all of the other things that people seem to associate with it. Maybe we just need more songs so people don't get confused about the meaning of this one.