OurOur NATIONAL NATIONAL ANTHEM ANTHEM (SONG)(SONG)

““THE THE STAR-STAR-SPANGLED SPANGLED BANNER” BANNER” (F(FLLAAG)G)

The music for our National Anthem was a familiar song that everyone knew at that time. The title

was ‘To Anacreon In Heaven.’ The composer was John Stafford Smith from England.

JOHN STAFFORD SMITH

America had won it’s freedom from England in 1776 but the British from England were attacking us again

and had burned our White House.Now they were attacking Fort McHenry.

Francis Scott Key was a lawyer that was asked to negotiate the return of one of our Americans that the

British had taken hostage.

FRANCIS SCOTT KEY

Francis Scott Key went on board the British ship.

When he had finished the negotiations, he couldn’t leave the ship because

the British had begun bombing Fort McHenry.

Throughout the day and night of Sept. Throughout the day and night of Sept. 13, the British continued to attack. As 13, the British continued to attack. As Francis Scott Key watched from the Francis Scott Key watched from the

protection of the ship, he caught protection of the ship, he caught glimpses of our flag.glimpses of our flag.

Francis was thrilled that ‘our flag Francis was thrilled that ‘our flag was still’ flying in the morning of was still’ flying in the morning of Sept. 14. He wrote a poem that Sept. 14. He wrote a poem that expressed his joy because he expressed his joy because he knew we had won the battle of knew we had won the battle of

Fort McHenry and could keep our Fort McHenry and could keep our freedom.freedom.

Francis Scott Key’s poem is sung to John Francis Scott Key’s poem is sung to John Stafford Smith’s music and has been our Stafford Smith’s music and has been our

National Anthem since 1931.National Anthem since 1931.

‘‘Oh, say can you see…Oh, say can you see…