NATIONAL ANTHEM
It was Sep 13, 1814. A young United States attorney, Francis Scott Key, secured permission to board a British warship in an attempt to arrange the release of an American prisoner detained on Board. He was forced to stay overnight on the ship and from that exciting vantage point he witnessed the British bombardment of the fort which guarded the entrance to Baltimore. In the dwindling light of day he could see the American flag flying over Fort McHenry and as the darkness settled over the harbor he watched intently to see if the proud banner was still there. The red glow of exploding ammunition kept bringing Old Glory in view. When the gray dawn finally broke, the morning sunlight seemed to wash away the smoke from Fort McHenry and the silver stars and red stripes wore a new look of hope and courage. It was a magnificent moment in history. The young lawyer was so moved that he pulled an old…
To view this resource, log in or sign up for a subscription plan