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Two Hundred and Seven Years Ago, a Guy Saw a Flag
‘O say can you see…?’
Two hundred and seven years ago this morning, a 35-year old lawyer witnessed the most inspiring episode of his life, the sight of the American flag over Fort McHenry after a merciless, 25-hour naval bombardment.
His name was Francis Scott Key.
Had Fort McHenry fallen, Baltimore would have been taken by the British. The loss of Baltimore, just weeks after the burning of the nation’s capital, would have been a crippling blow to the young United States.
Moved by the fort’s valiant defense of Baltimore, Key penned the words to a poem he titled “Defence of Fort McHenry.”
The lyrics were put to the tune of a popular British drinking song “To Anachreon in Heaven,” and the song became known as “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Congress made it our national anthem in 1931.
The most sobering and troubling reality today is that too many Americans are no longer inspired by the sight of their own flag and are no longer moved by our national anthem.
A nation that no longer values itself cannot sustain itself. Unless more Americans reclaim their sense of commitment and responsibility to their own nation, we will be in deep peril.
Don’t let the sins of your country or disagreement with its government lead you to hate your country. That is like hating a patient because they have cancer.
The United States isn’t perfect, but it is my country here on this earth.
And I will love it until my last breath in this life.
