200 years later, Francis Scott Key's poem remains powerful reminder of national pride Published Sept. 4, 2014 By Staff Sgt. Christopher Leroux 9th Munitions Squadron BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The United States is quietly creeping up on a couple extremely important and nation-shaping bicentennial anniversaries. Now, you may be thinking to yourself, "What in the world was the United States involved in during the year 1814, and what happened that is so important to remember?" Honestly, it is not often spoken of, especially outside of educational settings, but we hear it every day. I'm talking about our nation's anthem, The Star Spangled Banner. We as Americans hear it all the time, and as Airmen we will hear it at the close of business, but how often do we talk about where it came from, who wrote it, when it became our national anthem? You have to admit the history of The Star Spangled Banner is rarely remembered and spoken of even less. I find it disappointing that we as a nation have lost connection with that portion of our history and feel we need to take a look again at song that fills our hearts with pride, brings athletes to tears and unites a divided nation. As I implied earlier, 1814 is the birth year of the Star Spangled Banner, or better known at that time as "Defence of Fort M'Henry". This small, newly created country that was barely 38 years old and not even 30 years past the Revolutionary War had already found itself two years into a second war with Great Britain -- the War of 1812. While complicated, the United States declared war against the British over interference with international trade, imprisonment of American sailors and America's desire to expand its borders into British owned Canada and other areas westward. Until April 1814, Great Britain was focused on their war with France. However, once Napoleon was defeated, Great Britain turned their full attention to the war against America. Not too long after moving their army and naval armada, England set their eyes on the newly founded capitol, Washington D.C., and burnt down many government buildings including the White House, Capitol Building and The Library of Congress. The American people were shocked to see their capitol in flames and the enemy move through so quickly. These events led the British to Baltimore and to the main portion of history I'd like to address. The "Defence of Fort M'Henry" was a poem written by Francis Scott Key, and it describes the events he witnessed on Sept. 14, 1814 during the Battle of Fort Mc Henry while aboard a British truce vessel. Key was aboard the vessel to free imprisoned Americans, who he was able to convince the British naval commander to release. The prisoners may have been freed, but the British admiral would not let them go immediately because they had all seen the elements of a surprise attack about take place on Baltimore. For the British to take Baltimore their navy had to take Fort McHenry. What ensued was a 25 hour attack on the fort. Key and the prisoners were anchored eight miles away and could do nothing but watch the full day of shelling. Through the night, 10- and 13-inch shells pounded the fort and rockets screamed through the sky finding their targets, but the men of Fort McHenry would not surrender. The British admiral called off the attack and at that moment, Maj. George Armistead ordered the larger garrison flag be raised, switching the smaller storm flag in place at the time as the battle took place in a storm. This sight seen eight miles away by Key inspired him to write a poem detailing the events he witnessed, "Defence of Fort M'Henry." The poem was not written to be a song, but fit perfectly with popular tune "Anacreon in Heaven" by John Stafford Smith. The American people felt pride in their hearts again and were now appreciative of the symbol the Star Spangled Banner represented. It wasn't until this time that Americans really saw the flag as we do today. In fact, stories regarding the flag during the Revolutionary War only came up after the battle of Baltimore and defense of Fort McHenry. After the war of 1812, The Star Spangled Banner became more popular and widely used at multiple genres of events ranging from military functions to popular recreational events. In spite of this, it wasn't until 1931 when President Hoover signed into law that The Star Spangled Banner became the United States' national anthem. Obviously, it is most common to hear only the first stanza; however the full version had four stanzas with a fifth stanza added during the American Civil War by Oliver Wendell Holmes. To fully grasp the imagery of the poem and sentiment of our cherished symbol, one must read the whole poem. That same flag Francis Scott Key saw over Fort McHenry, with its 15 stripes and 15 stars, still hangs today in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. To this day, The Star Spangled Banner still tears at the heart strings of the population, fills our hearts with pride and instills a sense of unity in all Americans. Who knows how symbolic Old Glory would be if it wasn't for this poem and Francis Scott Key's inspiration? I've concluded this article with the full five stanzas of The Star Spangled Banner in hopes that you will read and grasp how incredible this song really is. 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! When our land is illumined with liberty's smile, If a foe from within strikes a blow at her glory, Down, down with the traitor that tries to defile The flag of the stars, and the page of her story! By the millions unchained, Who their birthright have gained We will keep her bright blazon forever unstained; And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave, While the land of the free is the home of the brave.