National Anthem

THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER
The National Anthem of the United States of America

by Francis Scott Key

US Flag_anim.gif (12296 bytes)

Oh, 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 thru 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.
Oh, 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, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner!
Oh 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, or 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!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home 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, when 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!

It was during a visit to the British fleet in Chesapeake Bay on September 13, 1814 to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes, who had been captured after the burning of Washington, D.C., Francis Scott Key wrote a poem entitled, "Defense of Fort M'Henry". Beanes' release was secured, but Key was detained on ship overnight during the shelling of Fort McHenry.

"The Star-Spangled Banner" was officially made the National Anthem by Congress in 1931 even though it had already been adopted as such by the Army and Navy. The words are just as soul-touching now as they were then...

Pages Within This Site
American National Anthem by Francis Scott Key	Borrow Pits By Kenneth L. Erhard	Declaration Document of treason!
Editorial Sometimes original gripes		Flying the U.S. Flag A how-not-to in flag etiquette
Freedom How far will you go?		Heroes Everyone needs a Hero
High Flight By John Gillespie Magee Jr.	Ken's Story By his widow	The Report "Miss Dianne" is MIA
	Web Memorial Dedicated to All Which Have Paid the Ultimate Price
These pages designed and developed by J.E. Bean �1997-2004 All rights reserved

Some Favorite Links
American Ex-POW Organization		Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office

44th Bomb Group Veteran's Association		Internet B24 Bomber's Group

Stalag XVII-B		United States Army Air Force