September 13th 1814

[Fig]

“The Star-Spangled Banner”​

In September 1814, during the War of 1812, a British fleet sailed up the Chesapeake Bay and closed in on Baltimore, Maryland. The bustling port was one of the largest cities in the young United States and a rich prize. To capture it, the British had to get past Fort McHenry, which guarded the harbor. As the ships crept upstream, their crews could see a gigantic American flag fluttering over the fort’s walls. On September 13 the big British guns took aim at the flag and let loose a horrifying fire, including huge bombshells that often blew up in midair. When dark fell, gunpowder-filled Congreve rockets traced fiery arcs across the night sky. It was a spectacular sight. Francis Scott Key had an agonizing view of the battle. The young American lawyer had sailed out to a British warship before the fighting began to gain the release of a friend being held prisoner. He succeeded, but the British grew concerned he might have picked up information about their plans, so they detained him as the attack got underway. Key had no choice but to wait out the night, pacing the deck and hoping the fort could hold out. When dawn’s light finally came on September 14, he spotted the Stars and Stripes still proudly waving through the smoke. Fort McHenry stood, and the British were giving up. Overcome with emotion, Key scribbled a few lines that began, “O say, can you see by the dawn’s early light . . .” A few days later the poem was printed and distributed in Baltimore. People began singing the words to a popular tune, and soon “The Star-Spangled Banner” was a hit. More than a century later, in 1931, Congress designated the song as our national anthem.​

The Star-Spangled Banner
Francis Scott Key - 1779-1843
O 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 through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming;
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs 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, now conceals, now 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; 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 washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave,
From the terror of flight and 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 loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land,
Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, for 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.

 

[Lapuapalooza]

So tell me again how many times you have to kick a countries butt before you go in and save a countries butt? And how many time do you need to save that countries butt again?

 

[johnnycat]

The fourth stanza has always been my favorite.

 

[oneshot86]

My favorite song

 

[Samuel Whittemore]

BEST SONG IN THE WORLD!

 

[Sean the Nailer]

​

“The Star-Spangled Banner”​

​

In September 1814, during the War of 1812, a British fleet sailed up the Chesapeake Bay and closed in on Baltimore, Maryland. The bustling port was one of the largest cities in the young United States and a rich prize. To capture it, the British had to get past Fort McHenry, which guarded the harbor. As the ships crept upstream, their crews could see a gigantic American flag fluttering over the fort’s walls. On September 13 the big British guns took aim at the flag and let loose a horrifying fire, including huge bombshells that often blew up in midair. When dark fell, gunpowder-filled Congreve rockets traced fiery arcs across the night sky. It was a spectacular sight. Francis Scott Key had an agonizing view of the battle. The young American lawyer had sailed out to a British warship before the fighting began to gain the release of a friend being held prisoner. He succeeded, but the British grew concerned he might have picked up information about their plans, so they detained him as the attack got underway. Key had no choice but to wait out the night, pacing the deck and hoping the fort could hold out. When dawn’s light finally came on September 14, he spotted the Stars and Stripes still proudly waving through the smoke. Fort McHenry stood, and the British were giving up. Overcome with emotion, Key scribbled a few lines that began, “O say, can you see by the dawn’s early light . . .” A few days later the poem was printed and distributed in Baltimore. People began singing the words to a popular tune, and soon “The Star-Spangled Banner” was a hit. More than a century later, in 1931, Congress designated the song as our national anthem.​

The Star-Spangled Banner
Francis Scott Key - 1779-1843
O 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 through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming;
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs 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, now conceals, now 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; 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 washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave,
From the terror of flight and 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 loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land,
Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, for 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.

I'd say, that this truly IS a great day to have a Birthday.

In so many ways....


I'm a Canadian, and I APPROVE of this message.

 

[Caihlen]

Solid.