Yesterday (March 3) was "National Anthem Day," commemorating the date on which, in 1931, "The Star-Spangled Banner" officially became the anthem of the United States. Most Americans don't know that our first unofficial national anthem was not "The Star-Spangled Banner" nor the story of how our current anthem came to be.
In this 250th year of America's existence, it's important that we immerse ourselves in the rich history of our nation, honoring our heroes and understanding how patriotic icons came to be. "The Star-Spangled Banner" was born as a poetic tribute to 19th-century U.S. military courage and only became the national anthem more than a century later.During the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key and Col. John Stuart Skinner went on board a truce ship of the British fleet to plead for the release of Maryland native Dr. William Beanes, who had been captured in his home in August 1814, according to historian Tara Ross. The British did agree to release Beanes, but the mission did not end there. In fact, the British temporarily kept all three Americans in custody as they prepared for the assault on Fort McHenry, as the British were afraid the Americans would otherwise be able to share information on their movements with the U.S. troops. The three Americans were hostage until the outcome of the battle became clear.
Key watched from the British ship as the 25-hour bombardment commenced and dragged on against Fort McHenry. It must have looked like a terrible siege to withstand. But with the coming of the dawn, Key felt his heart warm as he saw that the American flag was still flying over the fort. Burning to put his experience and his pride in the American resistance into writing, Key penned a poem that was published in Baltimore papers on Sept. 20, 1814. Baltimore music shop owner Thomas Carr added music to the words and titled it "The Star-Spangled Banner."
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But at that time, there was no official national anthem. Often, the unofficial anthem was "The President's March," composed by Philip Phile for George Washington's inauguration, and later given lyrics under the title "Hail, Columbia."
"The Star-Spangled Banner" was used as a patriotic song at events and official functions, but it was more than a hundred years after Key wrote the original poem and Carr turned it into a song that the historic event we commemorate today happened:
[Ottumwara Radio] It wasn’t until March 3, 1931, that President Herbert Hoover signed a congressional resolution officially designating it as the national anthem of the United States. Prior to that, it had been widely used in military and public ceremonies but had no formal status.
Below are the lyrics of the original poem Key composed. While the official holiday was yesterday, sing our national anthem today and remember its rich history, steeped in military courage and patriotic fervor:
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 rocket’s 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, now conceals, now 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 and 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 homes 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 a nation.
Then conquer we must, for 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.
