Celebrating Our Flag and Nation
How do you feel when you see the American flag? Or hear our national anthem sung? What do you do? Maybe like me you put your hand over your heart and thank God for all brave men and women who have fought to keep our freedom in this nation.
The flag I treasure most was given to me at my husband’s graveside for his service in the U.S. Air Force. The huge flag that inspired the writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” is today on display at the National Museum of American History.
“The flag of America is more than being a just symbol of the country. In its design of stars and stripes, the American Flag embodies the spirit of a country that rose for its rights and declared independence from the British empire. Right since it was adopted by the union of 13 states till the present one with 50 stars that came into existence on July 4, 1960, the American flag has been changed 27 times!” 1
America’s struggle to be free of Britain’s tyranny was made official with the signing of the Declaration of Independence among 13 states. The nation was fighting with Britain when this declaration was adopted. Many of those 56 men in the Continental Congress who signed their names on that document on July 4, 1776 knew their lives would be at risk.
Years later when the date was celebrated in Philadelphia in 1811, one of the declaration signers, the distinguished doctor, Benjamin Rush, wrote his remembrances to his friend, John Adams, also a signer and a Founding Father, who went on to become the second president (1787-1801).
The letter from Dr. Rush to John Adams, dated July 20, 1811 read:
“The 4th of July has been celebrated in Philada: in the manner I expected. The military men…ran away with all the glory. Scarcely a word was said of the solitude and labors, and fears, and sorrows and sleepless nights of the men who projected, proposed, defended and Subscribed to the declaration of independence. Do you recollect your memorable speech upon the Day on which the Vote was taken? Do you recollect the pensive and awful silence which pervaded the house, when we were called up, one after another, to the table of the President of Congress, to subscribe what was believed by many at that time to be our death warrants? The silence and the gloom… We attempted to take off their fancied crowns & royal robes….We shall not I hope to lose our reward for those intended labors of love…”—Benj.Rush”2.
Fast forward to September 1814 when the writing of our national anthem was inspired by a famous flag. Once again the British were on American soil fighting us. The song was inspired by a massive “Great Garrison Flag” which Francis Scott Key saw in the early morning light of September 14, 1814 as it flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore’s harbor, signifying America’s victory.
Just listen to this:
That flag featuring 15 stars and 15 stripes measured 30-feet by 42-feet, weighed more than 50 pounds, and it is said that it took eleven men to hoist it to the top of its 90-foot pole. It was reportedly the largest flag flown in combat at that time. And yet it was not the same flag that flew over the fort during the terrific rainstorm that ensued during those 25 hours of battle. A smaller storm flag flew.3
Early on September 13, 1814, British ships began a 25-hour bombardment of Fort McHenry. Rockets burst. Mortars exploded. “The British ships were unable to pass Fort McHenry and penetrate Baltimore Harbor. Perhaps not only because of its defenses, including a chain of 22 sunken ships, and the American cannons. The British, having depleted their ammunition, ceased their attack on the morning of September 14.” 4
To celebrate the British retreat, the Americans lowered the storm flag and hoisted the huge garrison flag. Major George Armistead had known his fort, which was built to guard the water entrance to Baltimore, would probably be a target. So, he requested a flag “so large that the British will have no trouble in seeing it from a distance.” A professional flagmaker, Mary Young Pickersgill of Baltimore, and her helpers made two. In addition to the garrison flag, they also made the smaller flag measuring 17-feet by 25-feet, which waved over the fort during the battle. Unfortunately, it has been lost. 5
But our national anthem’s origin? Francis Scott Key, a 35-year-old American lawyer, watched aboard a ship probably eight miles away while rockets glared and bombs burst.With “the dawn’s early light” of September 14, when the smoke of battle lifted, Key spotted the massive American flag with the stars and stripes, flying high. The British were retreating and the fort still stood. 6
On the back of an envelope, Key wrote a few lines of poetry describing the moving scene. Later that night in his hotel room in Baltimore he revised and finished four verses about America’s victory –as an eyewitness to the bombardment. It was soon joined with the tune of a popular English song. Before long it was being sung across the country. By the 1890s, the military had adopted it for ceremonial purposes, to be played at the rising and lowering of the colors. Congress officially declared it the national anthem of the United States on March 3,1931. 7
Portions of the last verse read:
“Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land
Praise the pow’r that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.” 8
I hope you too feel gratitude for all those who have sacrificed for us to live under that mighty flag—and thankful to God for divine intervention for our country.
Happy 245th birthday, United States of America!
Prayer: Father, thank You for giving our forefathers victory in battles when our country’s future hung in the balance. We are grateful to You for our beloved homeland — for the 50 states that now make this the United States of America. Help our nation accomplish Your will and purpose. May we continue to be the land of the free and home of the brave. I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Scripture: For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, “May peace be within you.” (Psalm 122:8 NASB)
Notes:
1. https:/historyplex.com/first-american-flag-history
2. https://founders.archves.gov/documents/adams/99-02-02-5659
3. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-story-behind-the-star-spangled-banner-149220970/
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_McHenry
5.. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-story-behind-the-star-spangled-banner-149220970/
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. https://amhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/the-lyrics.aspx
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