The Star Spangled Banner
The National Anthem of the United States of America was written by
Francis Scott Key
Fort McHenry
The National Anthem of the United States of America was written by Francis Scott Key after observing the Battle of Fort McHenry
that was a part of the larger Battle of Baltimore. Key along with American Prisoner Exchange Agent Colonel John Stuart Skinner were aboard the British ship HMS Tonnant negotiating the release of American prisoners being held by the British. After hard negotiations the British agreed to release Dr. William Beanes after they were shown letter of praise written by captured British soldiers telling of the good treatment they had received by the Americans and specifically Dr. Beanes. The other prisoners were not released at that time. Key, Colonel Skinner and the Dr. were not allowed to leave immediately because they had heard some of the plans for the coming attack. During that attack Key was witness to the entire battle from the deck of HMS Tonnant and as he observed the battle he scribbled the start of a poem on the back of an envelope he had in his pocket. After the battle the three men were released as agreed to and Key then finished the poem titling it “The Defense of Ft. McHenry” later to be changed to “The Star Spangled Banner”
Before we take a close look at what the words mean let me set the stage for you of that evening’s battle. On the night of September 13/14, 1814, 5 Bomb Ketches, 10 smaller warships and 1 rocket firing ship the HMS Erebus open fire on Ft. McHenry. It was a slightly rainy night on Chesapeake Bay that the British Fleet had been waiting for. The light rain cleared the air, making visual observation of the ships cannon fire easy for the Captains to position their ships for the most accurate fire. The Bay was calm that night so the light seas were not a problem that would cause the ships to roll and make cannon fire a problem. Key was on the deck of the Frigate “HMS Surprise” and was witness to the entire battle. So moved he was that after the battle he wrote the first part of the poem later to be put to music. To give the reader an idea of what the American Flag looked like that night, I will include these photographs.
Actual Flag measuring 30 Ft. X 42 Ft.
Smaller Battle Flag flown that night
Let us now look at the words of the song and what their meaning was then and what they mean now.
The National Anthem
“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, thro’ 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.
Oh, 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, thro’ 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: oh, 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 footstep’s 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.
Oh, thus be it ever when free men shall stand,
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation;
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that has made and preserved us as a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause 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
We will just go through the first stanza because that is what most people are familiar with. Remember now that Key wrote of his observations both from watching the night bombardment of Sept. 13th and the aftermath on the morning of Sept. 14th. The British Fleet first came close to shore with its first volley for the shock effect and then moved off to a distance where the American shore batteries could not reach. It was reported that the British Fleet fired up to 1800 cannon rounds but with surprisingly little damage. This being said the visual effect was still none the less spectacular. By reading the first stanza it is easy to imagine the feelings that Key had gone through. After all of the intense bombardment he had witnessed with the bombs bursting in the air above the Fort and the rockets both illumination and percussion lighting up the sky, all the while the smaller battle flag was still seen flying over the Fort. The sight of the Flag flying during this intense battle gave great hope and courage to the American troops who saw it. Before dawn on the 14th the Battle Flag was lowered and the large Ceremonial Flag was raised. By reading the first stanza as a narrative rather than a song, it describes the pride and hope that was felt by all of the Americans who witnessed it.
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, thro’ 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.
Oh, say, does that Star – Spangled Banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave
The proper etiquette when the National Anthem is played is as follows:
United States Code, Title 36, section 301:
1. Designation. — The composition consisting of the words and music known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem.
2. Conduct During Playing — During rendition of the national anthem —
1. when the flag is displayed —
1. individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note;
2. members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute in the manner provided for individuals in uniform; and
3. all other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and
2. when the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.
Examples of both the proper and the improper etiquette.
Proper etiquette:
