National Anthem of the United States

       As we all know, the "Star Spangled Banner" is the natinal anthem of the United States of America.  However, many of us don't know its history or why it is even has such a great signifigance to all citizens.

       Lyrics of the anthem were originally created for a poem, "Defence of Fort McHenry," written by Francis Scott Key in 1814.  He was inspired by the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships in the Chesapeake Bay during the war of 1812.  It is read to the tune of a popular British drinking song called "The Anacreontic Song."  "The Star-Spangled Banner" was recognized for official use by the president in 1916 and made the natioanl anthem by a congressional resolution on March 3, 1931.

       The song contains four stanzas, however, only the first is commonly sung today.  The fourth stanza is only added on more formal occasions.  "In God We Trust" was adopted into the song as the national motto in 1956.  Today, the national anthem is consistently played at sporting and military events.  This is thanks to president Woodrow Wilson in 1916 and the efforts to support our troops during WWII.  While the national anthem is being sung, it is common courtesy to stand, remove all hats, and place the right hand over your heart.

"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 thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, 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! Oh 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!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n 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!"