Yesterday was the 200th anniversary of the writing of our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner. Here is a post I wrote a couple of years ago after visiting Fort McHenry where the event took place.
A History Lesson
My
history education hasn't been very good—both from my schooling and my
own initiation. So, I have vague ideas about a lot of things but don't
understand much completely. This was evident during my recent visit with
Ward to Fort McHenry in Baltimore. I knew that Francis Scott Key
wrote the Star Spangled Banner there while he was watching bombs
bursting in air, supposedly to the tune of an old English drinking song.
But I never knew the rest of the story.
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| A replica of Key's Star Spangled Banner at Fort McHenry |
Picture
it. September 1814 during the War of 1812. The British have just burned
the Nation's Capital and the people of Baltimore are frightened. The
British Navy is amassing in the Chesapeake Bay and they are coming for
Baltimore next if they can get by Fort McHenry. Meanwhile, Francis Scott
Key, a young Georgetown lawyer, has taken a ship out among the British
to negotiate for the release of Dr. William Beanes, who is a prisoner of
war.
The
British start bombing the fort and the Americans return their fire.
Francis is forced to stay among the British ships and can do nothing but
watch the massive battle. For twenty five hours the exchange goes on.
The firing finally stops and the battle has been won. But by whom? He
anxiously awaits to see which flag will be flying over the fort: the
Union Jack or the Stars and Stripes. When dawn brakes, it is a
tremendous relief for him to see the Star Spangled Banner still flying.
Francis Scott Key, overcome with emotion, is inspired to capture the
feelings of the experience by penning the Star Spangled Banner.
There are many more details, that I can't quite remember, but the words of our National Anthem now have more meaning for me.
"Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru 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?"
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru 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?"
