What’s Happening:

Most Americans grew up singing “The Star Spangled Banner” in school. But not everyone knows the full story of our National Anthem.

Francis Scott Key wrote those dramatic lines during a time of great crisis. And today, we celebrate that pivotal moment he memorialized for all time.

From Fox News:

Francis Scott Key awoke aboard a British warship after watching the terrifying 25-hour bombardment of Fort McHenry — and, by dawn’s early light, was stunned to find that our flag was still there on this day in history, Sept. 14, 1814.

The Baltimore attorney, in a fit of patriotic fervor after witnessing the relentless naval attack on his American homeland, soon put pen to paper and feverishly scribbled down his poetic account of the event…

“The rocket’s red glare, the bomb bursting in air/Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,” Key wrote over the next two days.

“O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave/O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

Key wrote about the intense battle at Fort McHenry during the War of 1812.

British forces were bombarding the fort, seeking to destroy American forces. Key was trapped aboard a British warship, fearing that the base would be taken.

But, after a night of intense bombardment, Key rejoiced to see that our flag, Old Glory, still flew over the fort.

The words he wrote in honor of that night became The Star Spangled Banner, which would later be put to music.

The memorable anthem has long been a reminder of our nation’s ferocious spirit, even during our darkest hours.

And it today continues to inspire millions of patriots, as we battle new challenges.

Key Takeaways:

• Today we celebrate the anniversary of Francis Scott Key’s Star Spangled Banner.
• He wrote the poem on September 14, 1814.
• The words commemorate a U.S. victory during the War of 1812.

Source: Fox News