Humpday History Highlight
By Wyatt Earp | March 3, 2010
Okay, everyone knows that “The Star-Spangled Banner” is our national anthem, right? (Dear God, please say yes.) And most of you know that it was written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 during the British bombardment of Fort McHenry, right?
Well how many of you knew that it took 117 years to make the song official?
March 3, 1931 – “The Star-Spangled Banner” becomes official.
President Herbert Hoover signs a congressional act making “The Star-Spangled Banner” the official national anthem of the United States.
On September 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key composed the lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner” after witnessing the massive overnight British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Maryland during the War of 1812. Key, an American lawyer, watched the siege while under detainment on a British ship and penned the famous words after observing with awe that Fort McHenry’s flag survived the 1,800-bomb assault.
After circulating as a handbill, the patriotic lyrics were published in a Baltimore newspaper on September 20, 1814. Key’s words were later set to the tune of “To Anacreon in Heaven,” a popular English song. Throughout the 19th century, “The Star-Spangled Banner” was regarded as the national anthem by most branches of the U.S. armed forces and other groups, but it was not until 1916, and the signing of an executive order by President Woodrow Wilson, that it was formally designated as such. In March 1931, Congress passed an act confirming Wilson’s presidential order, and on March 3 President Hoover signed it into law.
And now you know. Knowledge is power, kids!
Topics: HHH | 5 Comments »
March 4th, 2010 at 7:06 am
Long may she wave!.
March 4th, 2010 at 11:46 am
Jon – Forever and ever.
March 4th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
God Bless America.She is going to need it.
March 5th, 2010 at 4:04 am
I noticed that congress sat on it for a little bit. Like 15 years.
The way gubmint works.
March 5th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
Oh, good video. I got goosebumps.
Looks like they were really proud of their country and that freedom and liberty they used to have there.