‘Star-Spangled Poetry’

What if you wrote a poem that was so beautiful, it immediately became a hit song? What if your song became so popular that 200 years later, over 300 million people were still singing it?

This happened to Francis Scott Key. He started his poem with a few lines scribbled on an envelope. He tells a story of Americans defending our nation. Every time we sing the song, we retell his story and deepen the love for our country.

Key witnessed a battle during the War of 1812. America and Britain were fighting what many considered “the second war of independence.” The British stormed Washington, D.C., and burned many buildings, including the White House. They also took prisoners. Key, a young attorney, was sent to talk to the British about the release of American prisoners. He set sail from the Baltimore harbor to meet with the officers of the British Navy. After a long time at sea, Key boarded the British ship. During this time, he learned about British plans to attack Baltimore.

Since Key knew about the plan, the British Navy officers couldn’t let him return to Baltimore. They knew that Key would warn the Americans. As they launched their fierce attack, Key sat in a boat, eight miles out at sea, and watched the fighting. For more than 24 hours, he watched and waited for a sign that the American defenders of Fort McHenry were victorious.

As Key looked toward land, he saw the ramparts. These were mounds of earth, built up high, to protect Fort McHenry. British ships launched one bomb after another. The bombs were supposed to explode, but many didn’t work right and burst in the air. All he could do was wait and hope. He watched as the last bit of sun sent light across the American flag’s broad stripes and bright stars, waving over Fort McHenry. Soon, he couldn’t see the flag. It was too dark. He sat and waited, waited for morning.

Key listened to battle sounds through the long and dark night. He knew Americans were taking daring risks during the perilous fight. He wondered: Who was winning? Was the American flag still waving, bravely, gallantly, over Fort McHenry? As the sun rose, Key could see the red, white, and blue banner, its stars glittering like spangled jewels in the dawn’s early light. Yes! After a long and difficult battle, the American flag was still streaming above Fort McHenry.

That morning at sea, Key wrote down the beginning words to a poem that he called “In Defence of Fort McHenry.” When he finished, he set the words to a popular English pub song. The song immediately became a favorite. In 1931 a congressional resolution officially recognized “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the official United States national anthem.

Saturday, Sept. 11 is Patriot Day. The purpose of this day is to remember the more than 2,900 people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The author is a frequent contributor to The Kids’ Reading Room.