CHORUS:...Oh, say, does that Star spangled Banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Vs. 2...Oh, thus be it ever when free men shall stand Between their loved homes and the war's desolation; Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n rescued land Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just; And this be our motto: "In God is our trust!"
CHORUS:...And the Star spangled Banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
The words to this song were written by Francis Scott Key, a prominent citizen who served three terms as District Attorney for the District of Columbia. His father had been an officer in the Revolutionary War, so he learned about patriotism early in life.
During the war of 1812, President Madison authorized Key to negotiate the release of a friend, Dr. Beanes, who had been taken prisoner. Although the British Admiral finally granted his request, Key and his party were detained on board the truce boat (due to the pending British attack). On September 13, 1813, they attacked Boston Harbor. Fort McHenry answered the attack and defended the harbor from the invaders. The bombardment continued into the dark of night and early hours of morning. Key could only pray and watch the exploding of bombs, both from the attack, and the return fire from American soil. However, the blackness of night prevented seeing anything except during the bomb bursts. Lighting up the night sky, they flooded the flag that was flying over Fort McHenry with a pool of light, declaring that we were not beaten. Key and his friends found comfort knowing that while the flag was still flying, they were ok. However, late into the night when the bombing stopped, he wondered...what happened? Did the Fort fall? Did he have a home to return to? Was America still free? He paced the deck until dawn. When darkness broke into grey, he could see that our flag was still there! America was still free! He pulled out an old letter and began writing this poem on the back of it. He completed it at home after being released later that evening.
Soon it was printed on a handbill and distributed. It was warmly received by the public, as Americans were still excited about the victory. Soon after, it was published as sheet music, by Joseph Carr to the tune "Anacron in Heaven" c.1790. The song was enthusiastically embraced as our National Anthem, although not officially adopted and declared by Congress until March 3, 1931.
The flag that waved, that symbol that endured, over Fort McHenry that night was made and given to the Fort by a 15 year old girl, later identified as Mrs. Sanderson. It is on display at the Sanderson home in Baltimore, Maryland.
This is just a brief version, but I hope it inspires and thrills you as much as it does us. May God Bless the United States of America!
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America; and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
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