In Defence of Ft. M’Henry (The Star Spangled Banner)

On the Back Porch

History occurs as it happens! And it stays with us forever.

Destroying artifacts and tearing down statues and monuments does not change history. It bewilders me to realize that there are actually people that think they can nullify history by selfishly destroying visible reminders of an action that made history.

Character often results from these historical events and from history we can learn the beauty and wisdom of success or how to avoid the pitfalls of human error or mistakes. We owe that to future generations.

Recently, I listened to a You-tube presentation that featured the resolve of the American people, the resilience of our Flag, and the inspiration for our National Anthem.

For several years now, I have been honored to be asked to recite a patriotic poem for events such as Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and gatherings at Rogers and Jean Craig’s home when they hosted the Red Horse Association.  Often in attendance would be a man that became a good friend, Col. Ralph LeCount Hodge USAF (Ret.) and he would always request that I recite the Johnny Cash poem, “That Ragged Old Flag.”

Col. Ralph’s history had ties to George Washington and Francis Scott Key and he relished the chance to tell stories such as this one about Francis Scott Key. He was a lawyer from Baltimore during the conflict with Britain that we know as The War of 1812. 

An American delegation approached the British with a request to have a discussion concerning a prisoner of war exchange. Key was asked to be the American negotiator and to go out to the British Flagship to attain the release of the American prisoners including his friend Dr.William Beanes.

He was allowed to go below decks where the men were held and discovered a larger group than was expected. He told these men that he was negotiating for their release and would keep them informed. 

Arriving back to the negotiations, he was informed that there had been a change.  Key and the prisoners would not be allowed to leave the ship until a military action was completed.

The British had issued an ultimatum to the American force at Ft. McHenry that they must lower their flag or face bombardment from the entire British Armada. The flag was not lowered and on September 13, 1814 the bombardment began. The British warships relentlessly pounded Ft. McHenry for 25 hours.

Through the night, the volume of shot and shell became a constant blanket of fire and smoke, but through the red glare of fire, Key could see the stars and stripes of the flag still standing. He would periodically report to the prisoners held below deck and they would ask, “Is the flag still standing?” And his report assured them that it was.

As he left, he could hear them praying that God would protect the Fort and the flag. Meanwhile, at Ft. McHenry, if the flag fell to the shelling, men in the fort would rush to stand her up, often resulting in their death.

But throughout this time, men continued to hold the flag in its upright position and as the smoke cleared on September 14ths dawn’s early light, Key would see the American Flag flying over Fort McHenry, signifying an American victory.

And there, while still aboard the ship, Key put pen to paper and recorded a tribute to this glorious sight. On the back of a letter he wrote the first verse of what would eventually become the National Anthem to the United States.

Once on shore, he drafted three more verses of the poem and he called his poem “In Defence of Fort M’Henry.” 

Later the poem was retitled,”The Star Spangled Banner” immortalizing Key’s words and forever naming the flag that it celebrated. The poem appeared in print across the country and the words were set to the tune of a popular British song, “To Anacreon in Heaven” by composer John Stafford Smith.

The “Star-Spangled Banner” was adopted as the National Anthem on March 3, 1931.

The following is the complete version of “In Defence of Ft. M’Henry" which was later retitled “The Star-Spangled Banner." It is taken from Francis Scott Key's manuscript in the Maryland Historical Society collection:

 

In Defence of Ft. M’Henry

(The Star Spangled Banner)

 

O 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 through the perilous fight 

O'er the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly streaming? 

And the rocket's red glare, the bomb 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 wash'd 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. 

 

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand 

Between their lov'd 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 preserv'd 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.

 

By Francis Scott Key

 

How can anyone abuse and dishonor this symbol of our freedom?

God Bless America! And God Bless our History!

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