In 1814, about a week after the city of Washington had been badly burned, British troops moved up to the primary port at Baltimore Harbor in Maryland.
Francis Scott Key visited the British fleet in the Harbor on September 13th to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes. Dr Beanes had been captured during the Washington raid.
The two were detained on the ship so as not to warn the Americans while the Royal Navy attempted to bombard Fort McHenry. At dawn on the 14th, Key noted that the huge American flag, which now hangs in the Smithsonian's American History Museum, was still waving and had not been removed in defeat.
The sight inspired him to write a poem titled Defense of Fort McHenry. The poem was eventually set to music. It was accepted as such by public demand for the next century or so. It became more accepted as the national anthem of the United States during the World Series of Baseball in 1917 when it was sung in honor of the brave armed forces fighting in the Great War.The World Series performance moved everyone in attendance. After that it was repeated for every game.
Finally, on March 3, 1931, the American Congress proclaimed it as the national anthem, 116 years after it was first written.
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof thro' 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?
Be the Big Gun. Don't be shy, man! Shout Out to classmates, buddies, and your flag coloring crazy cousins: "It is on at ColoringPagesBookForKidsBoys.com
Heads Up to Kids Laid Up Sick, Kid Doctors, Nurses, Teachers Nannies, Babysitters and Daycare Divas.
Bookmark Us. Send Email. RSS Blog Us - Free - Be the First to Know.
Hi Five, Publishers and Bloggers, Electrify your fans with unusual finds... Sweet link for them.
This American Flags Web Page:(opens a new window - your visitors remain on your site)
Free Flag Coloring Pages at Coloring Pages Book for Kids Boys.com
Select All - Copy - Paste
Flags to Color of USA State:
Mississippi - Missouri - Montana Click Flag Coloring Pages to Print
Click State Names for Color Picture of Their State Flags