On September 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key awoke aboard a British warship after witnessing the 25-hour bombardment of Fort McHenry, during which he saw the American flag still waving. Key, a Baltimore attorney, was inspired by the patriotism and bravery of his fellow Americans facing possible defeat in the War of 1812. Just three weeks earlier, British troops had attacked and burned Washington, D.C., including the White House and the Capitol. Key believed that the American defenses at Fort McHenry would not survive the intense British attack. His poetic account of the event, known today as the national anthem, captures the spirit of American resilience in the face of adversity.
The British used superior weapons to bombard Fort McHenry from a safe distance, causing devastation and destruction. Key was amazed by the intensity of the attack, describing it as if “mother earth was vomiting shot and shell in a sheet of fire and brimstone.” Despite the overwhelming firepower of the British Empire, the defenders of Fort McHenry refused to surrender, fueling Key’s patriotic response. After reading Key’s poem, which was initially named “Defence of Fort M’Henry,” his brother-in-law distributed it under that name, and it was later printed in the Baltimore Patriot newspaper, becoming known as “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Key’s poem was officially recognized as the national anthem by an Act of Congress signed by President Herbert Hoover in 1931. The actual flag that inspired the poem, known as the Great Garrison Flag, had 15 stars and 15 stripes and measured 42 feet by 30 feet. Major George Armistead, commander of Fort McHenry, had requested the creation of a giant flag to fly over the fort, and it was made by 37-year-old widow Mary Pickersgill with the help of her family and others. The state of Maryland honors the defense of Fort McHenry with Defenders Day each September 12.
Today, the Great Garrison Flag that flew over Fort McHenry during the bombardment is displayed at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. Fort McHenry is now a national monument and a U.S. historic shrine, commemorating the bravery and resilience of the defenders during the War of 1812. The flag continues to stand as a symbol of American patriotism and the country’s ability to withstand challenges. The tradition of honoring the defense of Fort McHenry with Defenders Day continues to this day, reminding Americans of the sacrifices made by those who defended the nation’s freedom and independence.
