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Vermont and Kentucky
joined the United States in 1795 and the flag bore 15 stars and
15 stripes. This flag was used during the War of 1812, and flew
over Fort McHenry at Baltimore. There, in 1814, it became the most
famous of our flags. The British began a bombardment of the fort
on September 13th and the attack lasted throughout the night.
A Washington lawyer, Francis Scott Key, seeking the release of a
client, had been detained on board one of the British ships. At
dawn on the 14th, Key saw the American flag still flying proudly
over the fort, even though about a fifth of the flag had been blown
away. He was inspired to write a poem which was printed in the BALTIMORE
PATRIOT five days later and quickly became popular.
The poem could be sung to the tune of an English drinking song,
"Anacreon in Heaven" and the organist at St. Paul's Episcopal
Church in Baltimore combined the tune and rhyme to create the music
we enjoy today. Interestingly, THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER did not
become the official national anthem until 1931. The original flag
from Fort McHenry can be seen in Washington at the Smithsonian Institute.
See the Flag
Size and Pricing Guide...
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