PATRIOTISM PRESENTATION FOR HIGH SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES

Francis Scott Key's Script

National Anthem – “The Star-Spangled Banner”

Hello. My name is Francis Scott Key. I am a lawyer in Georgetown, just a few miles from Washington, D.C. My wife Mary wanted to come today, but she’s busy taking care of our eleven children. In addition to being a lawyer, I’m like many folks, I like to write a little poetry as a hobby.

I have been asked to come today to share some of my experiences from the second decade of the 1800’s, specifically, the War of 1812.

Before the Battle

The War of 1812 had been a particularly nasty conflict with the British. They had just marched from the north, down through Washington and burned down the Capitol and White House, and were set on taking the port of Baltimore, which was protected in part by Fort McHenry. Let me tell you a little something about Ft. McHenry.

The protectors of Baltimore and Ft. Mc Henry were typical residents of the United States of America. They were made up of Germans, French, Swiss, English and Africans. The commander of Ft. McHenry was Major George Armistead, he came from a German family.

In 1813, Major Armistead asked Mary Pickersgill to make a flag for him. He wanted it so big that “the British would have no trouble seeing it from a distance.” She used 400 yards of fine wool. They cut 15 stars that were two feet across. There were 8 red and 7 white stripes. The stripes were each two feet wide. When it was finished it measured 30 by 42 feet. Major Armistead then had it flown over the Fort.

Now let’s get back to the war. After an initial land attack by the British had been stopped, 16 ships of the British fleet positioned themselves for a massive attack on the fort. During this time we heard that the British had captured one of our friends Dr. William Beanes during the attack on Washington.

Before the ships came within canon range, Colonel John Skinner and I went out to one of the British ships. We went to negotiate the release of Dr. Beanes. Since Dr. Beanes had not only helped Americans, he had been instrumental in saving the lives of several British who were wounded. Finally the British agreed to his release, but since all three of us had learned too much about the forthcoming attack, we were moved to the small frigate Surprise and were detained by the British until it was over.

The Defense of Fort McHenry

The attack started on September 12th, 1814, and continued for the next twenty-three hours. Skinner, Beane and I watched much of the bombardment from the deck of the ship – the rockets red glare – the bombs bursting in air – they gave proof that our flag was still there. And, all through the night of the 12th and the next day, we caught glimpses of the star-shaped fort with that beautiful huge flag.

In the dark of the 2nd night, the shelling suddenly stopped - through the darkness and the dead of the night, we couldn't tell whether the British forces had been defeated, or the fort had fallen.

As the sun began to rise, I was looking through the lifting darkness, anxious to see if the flag we had seen the night before was still flying. As the sun rose across the ocean, through the smoke and mist, I stared in the direction of the fort. And there it was, that beautiful flag. When I saw the flag, I had to capture that wonderful moment. So I grabbed my pen and the only thing I had to write on was a letter in my pocket. There I scribbled on the back of the envelope the first lines of a poem I called “Defense of Fort McHenry”:

“O, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming As the mist started to clear he was aware that there was a flag flying - but was it the British flag? It was difficult to tell:

What is that which the breeze o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? But finally the sun rose, and with intense relief and pride he saw that the fort had withstood the onslaught ...

'Tis the star-spangled banner - O long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

The poem becomes a hymn and anthem

On the way back to shore, and later in my hotel room, I completed all four verses of the poem, and the next morning I took it to my brother-in-law, Judge Joseph Nicholson, a local judge, and one of the militia who fought at Ft. McHenry. He thought it so good that he arranged to have it printed as a handbill.

The poem I wrote was soon put to music (an old British drinking song, “To Anacreon in Heaven.”) and one month later was sung at the Baltimore Theatre by Mr. Harding, one of the performers, in commemoration of the gallant defense of Fort McHenry and for the men that fought in that battle.

As they did back in 1814, would everyone please stand in reverence while we listen to those words in honor of those who have died and fought for us, and the many freedoms we enjoy.

*** (END OF FRANCIS SCOTT KEY FOR NOW – back to the main script) ***

And from what I understand, in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson ordered that it should become the National Anthem played by the military and naval services, but it wasn't until March 3rd, 1931 that it was officially designated as the National Anthem by act of Congress:

"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the composition known as The Star-Spangled Banner is designated as the National Anthem of the United States of America."

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, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs 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 on 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 wiped 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.

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-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!