![]() ![]() ![]() Many years later, President Herbert Hoover officially made the Star Spangled Banner into the US National Anthem. The song, both in lyrics and tune, was adopted by various brigades and in the context of various battles and national challenges both during and after the War of 1812-1814. That image is what inspired him to pen what was he first called the Defense of Fort McHenry and would later be referred to as the Star Spangled Banner. On September 14, 1814, in Baltimore Harbor, he looked out of the ship’s window and observed a battle worn American flag being raised over Fort McHenry amidst cannon fire in the early morning light. During the height of the battle, Francis Scott Key was sailing on a battle ship in an effort to gain return of an American prisoner. The War of 1812-1814 marked one of the first major trials of the young United States of America and forced the new nation to determine its destiny in what many referred to as the second war of independence. And it left me with a deep impression that lingers today. The visit provided an overview of not only of our nation’s early history but also the context for our National Anthem. That honor allowed me the opportunity to visit Baltimore and Fort McHenry for the first time. When I was a high school student, I had the honor of being selected by the governor to represent my home state of Minnesota at the National Flag Day celebration in Washington, DC and Maryland. ![]()
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