200 years ago this morning, a captured Washington lawyer, by the name of Francis Scott Key, awoke aboard a British warship as it lay siege to the port of Baltimore. He had witnessed on the previous night a horrific assault on Ft McHenry, a small earthen and brick fort that was the last hope of protection for the city of Baltimore.
In the evening, 19 British warships attacked the fort with cannons and Congreve rockets. These cannon shells and bombs bursting in air were sure to defeat those defending the small fort. Surely, after that pounding, the fort would surrender, or all would be lost.
When Keys awoke, the next morning, the smoke and fog obscured the fort. He didn't know if the American defenders had survived the continuous shelling from the previous night. However, once the smoke cleared, he saw that the small garrison flag had been replaced by a huge flag - the Star-Spangled Banner. He was so inspired that he immediately set out to pen a poem. That poem later became our National Anthem.
That Star-Spangled banner can be seen today in the Smithsonian's National History Museum, and the flag can still be seen flying at Ft. McHenry, where the National Anthem is still sung proudly every day. We encourage everyone to visit and learn more about our flag and National anthem.
In the evening, 19 British warships attacked the fort with cannons and Congreve rockets. These cannon shells and bombs bursting in air were sure to defeat those defending the small fort. Surely, after that pounding, the fort would surrender, or all would be lost.
When Keys awoke, the next morning, the smoke and fog obscured the fort. He didn't know if the American defenders had survived the continuous shelling from the previous night. However, once the smoke cleared, he saw that the small garrison flag had been replaced by a huge flag - the Star-Spangled Banner. He was so inspired that he immediately set out to pen a poem. That poem later became our National Anthem.
That Star-Spangled banner can be seen today in the Smithsonian's National History Museum, and the flag can still be seen flying at Ft. McHenry, where the National Anthem is still sung proudly every day. We encourage everyone to visit and learn more about our flag and National anthem.
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As Scouts, we always respect the flag and the National Anthem by saluting while in uniform. Encourage others to show the same respect whether they are in uniform or not by learning proper etiquette here.
Most you probably don't know the full lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner. It's more than just the verse that we usually sing. It is quite inspiring, and it is easy to see how it became our National Anthem. Perhaps, when you sing it at your next sporting event, Scouting event or on the Fourth of July, it will have a little deeper meaning for you.
O 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 through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through 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?
On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
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, O! long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
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.
O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation.
Blest with vict'ry 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!
O 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 through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through 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?
On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
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, O! long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
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.
O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation.
Blest with vict'ry 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!
Let's look at some of the many and varied versions of our National Anthem. They may all be different, but they say all express the same sentiment. God Bless America!
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