Happy 206th Birthday to American's National Anthem... The Star Spangled Banner
With all the unrest we are seeing in our nation and so much disrespect being shown to our flag and our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner, I wanted to take the time today to pay tribute to our national anthem, which is 206 years old today. I am always deeply touched by our anthem and so proud to be an American when I hear it played or sung.
The Battle of Baltimore at Fort McHenry during the British bombardment in 1814 inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that eventually became the national anthem of the United States. The bombardment began on September 13th in the middle of a thunderstorm and lasted for 25 hours. Amidst the bombs and canon fire from the British navy, the American troops at Fort McHenry took down their weather-beaten 15-star flag and replaced it with a larger, ceremonial flag as a show of strength against the king's forces.
Today marks the 206th anniversary of the inspiration for the national anthem, when the dawn of morning over Fort McHenry in Baltimore harbor revealed that the Stars and Stripes still flew after a British attack.
5 Facts About The Star Spangled Banner
- The Star Spangled Banner was not the "official" anthem until Congress passed a resolution in 1931?
- The melody is set to an old English drinking tune.
- Before it became our anthem, it was an American drinking tune, as well.
- There is more than one verse (which is the one most of us know)... in fact there are four verses.
- March 3rd is National Anthem Day, commemorating the The Star Spangled Banner was officially adopted as our national anthem.
The Star Spangled Banner
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power 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."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
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