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This week, Americans honor the enduring spirit of patriotism embodied in National Anthem Day, celebrated March 3.
The annual recognition allows Americans to commemorate the valor of Francis Scott Key, whose words — scribed amid the chaos of the Battle of Fort McHenry — gave rise to "The Star-Spangled Banner," a song that has served as the national anthem of the United States since 1931.
Key, a Maryland lawyer, witnessed the resilience of American warfighters during the War of 1812, a conflict that tested the mettle of a young nation determined to assert its sovereignty against British might.
Since the war's outbreak, American forces demonstrated an unyielding resolve to defend their homeland. Among their trials stands the legacy of Fort McHenry, a bastion in Baltimore harbor where the defense mounted by American soldiers and sailors against a relentless British bombardment inspired Key's iconic lyrics.
Fort McHenry's Defiant Stand
Following their victories over Napoleon in Europe, the British were emboldened to crush the United States as well. By September 1814, British forces had already torched Washington, leaving the capital in ashes. Their next target was Baltimore, a vital port city with Fort McHenry serving as its guardian.
While the British Empire boasted a formidable navy, American warfighters — outnumbered and outgunned — refused to yield. On Sept. 13, 1814, a fleet of British warships unleashed a barrage of rockets and mortar shells upon the fort.
Army Maj. George Armistead, commanding a garrison of roughly 1,000 men, fortified the star-shaped stronghold with cannons and resolve. The bombardment raged for 25 hours, testing the spirit of those within.
Key, then a 35-year-old attorney, watched the ordeal unfold from a unique vantage point. Tasked with negotiating the release of Dr. William Beanes, an American prisoner held aboard a British ship, Key found himself detained on a truce vessel in the harbor.
There, Key stood powerless as the British assaulted the fort, their bombs illuminating the night sky. "The rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air," he later wrote, capturing the ferocity of the onslaught and the stakes of American resistance.
A Banner Yet Waves
As dawn broke Sept. 14, 1814, the bombardment ceased. Through the haze of smoke and rain, Key strained to see the fort's ramparts. There, against all odds, a massive American flag — 30 by 42 feet, sewn by Baltimore seamstress Mary Pickersgill — fluttered defiantly above Fort McHenry.
The sight of that flag overwhelmed Key. "O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave," he penned, his words a testament to the fortitude of American warfighters who had repelled the enemy. The British, unable to breach the fort's defenses, withdrew, preserving Baltimore and bolstering national morale.
Key's experience was no mere observation; it was a communion with the soul of a nation at war. Returning to Baltimore, he completed his poem, originally titled "Defence of Fort M'Henry," Sept. 17, 1814. Set to the tune of a British drinking song, "To Anacreon in Heaven," it soon became known as "The Star-Spangled Banner." Printed in newspapers and sung in taverns, the song spread rapidly, its lyrics a rallying cry for a people forged in battle.
The War of 1812, often called America's "Second War of Independence," was a crucible of patriotism. Though the conflict ended in a stalemate with the Treaty of Ghent in December 1814, victories like Fort McHenry proved the United States could withstand a global power. American warfighting — marked by ingenuity and grit — turned the tide from privateers harassing British ships to the decisive triumph at New Orleans. Key's anthem immortalized this spirit, weaving it into the fabric of national identity.
The Anthem's Ascent
For over a century, "The Star-Spangled Banner" resonated as a cherished patriotic tune. Its adoption as the official national anthem came March 3, 1931, when President Herbert Hoover signed a congressional act affirming its place in American life. National Anthem Day now marks this milestone, reminding Americans of the anthem's origins in the crucible of war and its power to unite.
Key saw the flag as a symbol of liberty. "It is the star-spangled banner; O long may it wave / O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave," he wrote, envisioning a nation defined by its ideals. His words, born from the smoke of Fort McHenry, captured a moment when American warfighters stood firm, their sacrifice a beacon for generations.
A Legacy of Valor
The Battle of Fort McHenry was more than a military victory; it was a declaration of endurance. The garrison's cannons roared in defiance, their echoes matched by the resolve of sailors and soldiers across the war's theaters. From the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast, American forces — regulars and militia alike — fought with a tenacity that Key enshrined in verse. The flag he celebrated, now enshrined at the Smithsonian Institution, remains a relic of that struggle, its tattered stripes a testament to the cost of freedom.
On National Anthem Day, Americans honor this legacy by commemorating the bravery of those who defended Fort McHenry. Their stand against British aggression mirrors countless acts of American warfighting that have safeguarded the nation. Key's anthem, with its soaring notes and vivid imagery, calls all Americans to remember — not just the battle but the patriotism it inspired.
In a letter reflecting on his experience, Key wrote, "I saw the flag of my country waving over a victorious scene ... and I felt a thrill of joy." That thrill endures today, a reminder of the sacrifices that birthed "The Star-Spangled Banner." As Americans sing its strains, they celebrate the warfighters of 1814 and the indomitable spirit upon which the nation stands — unbowed, unbroken and forever free.
