Francis Scott Key, a successful Washington DC lawyer, was a deeply religious man, and at one time in his life considered giving up his law practice to enter the ministry. Because of his religious beliefs, Key was strongly opposed to the decision to go to war in 1812. But his deep love for this country overrode that decision and he served for a brief time in 1813, But his greatest service to the war effort came in 1814.

A prominent Washington physician, Dr. William Beanes was taken prisoner because he wouldn’t stand for the immoral act of British soldiers harassing women. The British had captured Washington on August 24, 1814. and Key was asked to go with Colonel John Skinner to negotiate his release aboard the British flagship HMS Tonnant.

As the negotiations took place, the Battle of Baltimore began, but not without delay. Major General Robert Ross, the British Army officer in command of the British forces in North America was MIA, leaving the flagship without orders to coordinate the fleet. It was Henry and William, a couple of boys, 18 and 19 years old that delayed the attack by shooting the British Major General Ross, which gave Fort McHenry long enough to prepare for the battle.

The three Americans were kept on board in the harbor, and from a distance of approximately eight miles, watched for 25 hours the bombardment on Fort McHenry before the British finally retreated. As dawn came, Key scanned the sky for a sign of what happened overnight. To his surprise and relief, the American flag was still flying! Overjoyed, he often memorialized these moments in poetry, he quickly documented this moment in a poem calling it “The Defence of Fort McHenry.”

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

The first stanza of Key’s poem is well-known to Americans as the lyrics to the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” It's hard to sing, nearly two octaves high, and it’s hard to memorize. The song represents the hard battle Key saw and relief he felt to see the flag still flying. We still sing his words representing the hard struggles America has had to keep the freedoms the flag represents.

We stand when the song is sung to honor all those that have died to make America free, we stand because that’s the least we can do to honor those who serve, and we stand committed to keep America free! Stand Up in honor of this Marine singing what Key penned as our destiny in the second verse of the Star Spangled Banner!

Enjoy this July 4th and learn the second verse of the Star Spangled Banner It says so much about the ever pursuing fight for freedom.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-07-04 18:03:33

Last Update: 2025-07-05 00:23:37