12 Questions About The Star Spangled Banner. The sight of those broad stripes and bright stars inspired Francis Scott Key to write a song that eventually became the United States national anthem. An actual American flag that was sewn by Mary Pickersgill to fly over Baltimore 2.
Soldiers at Baltimores Fort McHenry raised a huge American flag to celebrate a crucial victory over British forces during the War of 1812. After a century of general use the four-stanza song was officially adopted as the national anthem by an act of Congress in 1931. Oh long may it wave Oer 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 battles confusion A home and a country should leave us no more.
Musicologists examine the history of The Star-Spangled Banner. Now it catches the gleam of the mornings first beam In full glory reflected now shines in the stream. In 1813 Armistead commander of Fort McHenry decided that he needed a flag big enough to display over the fort reports Smithsonian MagazineIn July of that year he wrote to the commander of Baltimore that his troops were ready to defend the fort. Oh long may it wave Oer the land of the free and the home of the brave.