The Star-Spangled Banner - an Anthem for America

The Star-Spangled Banner got its birth in 1814, at Fort McHenry and will celebrate its 196th Anniversary in September. Near the end of the war of 1812, British troops burned the nation's capital and a few weeks later they aimed at Baltimore, the nation's third largest city at that time. A call to arms was sent out for soldiers, sailors, seamen and the militiamen from Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia to defend the city of Baltimore.

On September 13, 1814, as the bombardment of Fort McHenry was taking place, Francis Scott Key, a lawyer, was aboard a ship a few miles away engaged in an American Prisoner exchange with the British. During the time of the negotiations a fleet of British ships was firing bombs and rockets at Fort McHenry for over 24 hours. As that historical day was dawning, and the smoke cleared, Francis Scott Key was able to see a huge American flag billowing over the fort and knew that the British had been defeated. Inspired by what he had seen, he pulled a letter from his pocket and wrote upon the envelope, a poem describing the experience. He penned "The Defence of Fort McHenry," which was published in the "Patriot" on September 20, 1814. Later the poem was re-named the "Star-Spangled Banner," and was adopted as America's National Anthem.

We are all familiar with the first stanza of this great song, however we should place more focus on all four verses, for in this anthem remains the proof that our nation was rescued by God. The last stanza states that our nation is "blest with victory and peace" and is a land rescued by heaven.

Defence of Fort Henry

(The Star-Spangled Banner)

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 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 on 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 victory and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land.

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us as 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!

-Francis Scott Key