The Star-spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key War of 1812

             The American national anthem, so calledbecause it has become the authorized misic at the               salute to the colors in bot the arm and navy, is a tune that originated in the latter half of the 18th               century as the song of the Anacreontic Society, London. The composer is believed to to have been                John Stafford Smith, an English organist and composer.

During the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key, a young American lawyer, under a flag of truce,  boarded the     British frigate ” Surprice”  on a diplomatic errand, and from this vantage point was compelled to witness,     throughout the night of february  13, 1814, the bombardment of the American Fort McHenry.   With the        firstrays of dawn and after firing had ceased, he saw the flag still proudly waving.  Under the inspiration         of this dramatic moment, Key penned the immortal words of ” The Star-Spangled banner.”

      Born under such auspicious circumstances, it seems very appropriate that this song should rank first         in importance in our patriotic song lore. 

will put the words down on the next page of The Star-Spangled Banner