As your preparing Homeschooling Lessons I would like to remind you March 3rd is National Anthem Day.
For our family we will be able to come up with quite a few lessons built around the National Anthem and learning about the Flag of the United States.
Our National Anthem of the United States of America was written by Francis Scott Key, the song is the “Star Spangled Banner”.
The story behind “The Star Spangled Banner” show’s Key
an attorney, serving in Georgetown Light Field Artillery during the War of 1812. In 1814 his negotiation skills as a lawyer. He was called upon to release Dr. William Beane a prisoner on the British naval ship, Tonnant.
Early in September Key traveled to Baltimore in the company of Colonel John Skinner to begin negotiations. Key and Skinner secured Beane’s release. The British navy had begun attacking Baltimore, the trio had to wait at sea to return to Georgetown.
Key was so moved by the experience he immediately began penning the lyrics to a song which were later published by his brother-in-law as a poem titled “Defence of Fort M’Henry.”
HOW TO OBSERVE
Sing the Star Spangled Banner. Did you know there are three more verses to the original song? As a challenge, try learning them all. Use #NationalAnthemDay to post on social media.
HISTORY
Nearly 117 years passed after Key penned “Defence of Fort M’Henry” before it became the national anthem of the United States of America. The United States didn’t have an officially declared anthem until a congressional resolution, signed by President Herbert Hoover, until “The Star Spangled Banner” became the national anthem of the United States of America on March 3rd, 1931.
The National Anthem (True Books)
Explains what a national anthem is; recounts how and why Francis Scot Key wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner,” including the history of the specific flag to which he referred; and describes how his poem eventually became the national anthem.
The National Anthem; Paperback; Author – Nancy Harris
Books in this series introduce young readers to the United States government through a discussion of our country’s patriotic symbols. In ‘The National Anthem’, children learn about the history of the “Star Spangled Banner”, and how it came to be the national song. They also learn how this song is a symbol of the United States of America.
The Star-Spangled Banner (US, Hardcover)
Never before has the riveting American saga of “The Star-Spangled Banner” been so beautifully and thoroughly presented. This info-packed story of our national anthem includes illustrated lyrics; the fascinating history of the War of 1812 and the battle that inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the words; musical notation; historical photographs; plus a reproduction of Key’s original manuscript. Caldecott Medalist Peter Spier’s magnificent tribute takes readers from our anthem’s turbulent origins at the Battle of Baltimore through the flag’s significance in modern-day America. It’s a must-have for every American family’s library.
Complete version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” showing spelling and punctuation from Francis Scott Key’s manuscript in the Maryland Historical Society collection.
O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket’s red glare, the bomb bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, O 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 – O 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 wash’d out their foul footstep’s 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. O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation! Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d 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.
#NationalAnthemDay
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
