National Anthem Day is celebrated every year on March 3rd in the United States. It is a time for Americans to come together and honor the history and meaning behind our country’s national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner”.
This date was chosen because it marks the day in 1931 when the U.S. Congress officially adopted the song as our national anthem. The history of the national anthem can be traced back to the War of 1812, also known as the Second War for Independence.
In September of 1814, British forces had invaded Washington D.C. and set fire to many government buildings, including the White House and the Capitol. This event was a major humiliation for the young United States and intensified the conflict between the two nations. At the time of the attack, a young lawyer and amateur poet named Francis Scott Key was aboard a British ship in the Chesapeake Bay, negotiating the release of an American prisoner of war. As the battle raged on, Key watched anxiously through the night, hoping for a glimpse of the American flag to signify that the fort had not fallen to the British.
As dawn broke, Key saw the American flag still waving above Fort McHenry in Baltimore and was filled with a sense of pride and relief. It was this moment that inspired him to write the poem “Defence of Fort M’Henry,” which later became the lyrics for “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Key’s poem was set to the tune of an already popular English song called “To Anacreon in Heaven.” The song quickly gained popularity and was sung by Americans as a patriotic tribute to the nation.
Over time, it became known as “The Star-Spangled Banner” and was played at various patriotic events and ceremonies. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued an executive order designating “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the national anthem, but it was not until 15 years later that it was officially recognized by Congress. On March 3, 1931, President Herbert Hoover signed a bill into law making the song our national anthem. Since then, “The Star-Spangled Banner” has become a hallmark of American pride and is played at major events such as sporting games, political rallies, and military ceremonies. In the years since its adoption, “The Star-Spangled Banner” has undergone some changes and controversy.
In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill adding the phrase “under God” to the lyrics, reflecting the country’s increasing emphasis on religious values. In recent years, the song has faced criticism for its difficult tune and obscure lyrics, leading to discussions about potentially replacing it as the national anthem. Despite these controversies, National Anthem Day continues to be observed every year as a way to honor the history and significance of “The Star-Spangled Banner”.
Schools, communities, and organizations across the country hold ceremonies, concerts, and events to celebrate the day. It is also common to see the American flag flown at half-staff on this day in remembrance of those who have bravely defended our country.
On National Anthem Day, Americans are reminded of the resilience and bravery of our forefathers during the War of 1812 and the symbolism of our national anthem. It serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by our fellow Americans to preserve our freedom and unite us as a nation. In conclusion, National Anthem Day is a day to reflect on the history and significance of our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” It is a time to come together and honor the brave men and women who fought for our country’s independence and those who continue to defend it. This day reminds us of the importance of patriotism and unity in the face of adversity, and it is a tradition that will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.
“The Star-Spangled Banner”
O! 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 watch’d, 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 washed out their foul footsteps’ 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.
