O, Say Can You See

Today, in 1931, President Herbert Hoover signed the resolution making “The Star Spangled Banner” the official national anthem of the United States.

Now, it has been sung and played thousands of times. The words are the same as the lawyer Francis Scott Key penned on the back of an envelope in 1814 as he watched the bombardment of Fort McHenry near Baltimore.

The British had abandoned trying to seize Baltimore and turned their attention to Fort McHenry. Flying above Fort McHenry was a huge flag measuring 42 by 30 feet, the stripes were two feet wide, the stars measured 24 inches from point to point. The stars were appliqued on the front and then backed with another piece of cloth.

Mary Pickersgill, a Baltimore flag maker, was commissioned to make the large flag and a smaller one for the Fort. The original flag still exists and is on display at the American History wing of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. After many years of display at special events around the United States it was thin and tattered and someone had cut a piece as a souvenir. A group of skilled seamstresses were hired to repair the flag. A special technique was used to underpin the flag with thousands of stitches.

Francis Scott Key had come to Baltimore to try and secure the release of Dr. William Beane who was being held a prisoner on the British naval ship, Tonnant. As the bombs aimed at Fort Henry burst in air, Key began to write a poem that he entitled, “Defense of Fort M’Henry.” The poem was set to music of a British drinking song, “To Anacreon to Heaven.” Over its long history, the musical score and instruments have changed tremendously.

It would take over 100 years to become our official national anthem, it had already become a favorite at sporting events and others. Although it is a difficult song to sing, nevertheless, we all join in on a occasion. Probably the most memorable and greatest version has to be the one sung by Whitney Houston in January, 1991 at the Super Bowl.

“And our flag was still there.”