Saturday, September 20, 2014

O Say Can You See ...

September 14, 1814
Fort McHenry

Imagine the harbor  filled with British warships.
Francis Scott Key is on an American cutter in the harbor.
He watches the bombardment.
Smoke, rain and fog as cannons fire onto the night.

...The rockets red glare ...
 
Guns fall silent at dawn.
The fog lifts at 9 a.m.
Inspired he writes a poem. "Defence of Fort M'Henry" was published in the Baltimore Patriot on September 20, 1814.  Soon, the lyrics appeared in other newspapers and its popularity began.
The rest is history.
Today visitors to the Fort can participate in the folding of the colors.
 To honor
 To inspire
To protect
... O long may it wave.

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