Celebrate National Anthem Day with Oak Hill Dry Cleaners

One of the most significant moments at many major American events is the singing of the national anthem – “The Star Spangled Banner” – yet many of us do not know the history of the song and the background of its adoption as our National Anthem. Since today is officially National Anthem Day, we decided to take a closer look and remind you that we always offer free cleaning and pressing of American flags any day of the year!

History Magazine has this to say about it: “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.”

The Farmer’s Almanac also notes that “the anthems of most countries are either martial victory songs or tend to communicate other laudatory or self-congratulatory sentiments, ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ is unique in its message of endurance and perseverance,” as it occurs during a “battle we almost lost, following a battle where Washington D.C. itself was captured and burned.”

Commemorating America’s ability to endure, continue, and withstand against even direct attack, it highlights America’s refusal to be defeated. It quickly became a favorite at patriotic celebrations, and this is why President Wilson declared it appropriate for all military ceremonies in 1916, and why it was played during the seventh inning of game one of the 1918 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cub.

Today marks the 1931 signing of the law that officially named “The Star Spangled Banner” as the National Anthem of the United States, and why every March 3rd is celebrated as National Anthem Day.

Where is the Real Star Spangled Banner?

The 15-star flag to which Key directed his attention still exists and you can pay a visit a the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Don’t forget that we are also glad to spruce up your American flag with a professional cleaning and pressing at any time of year. You can honor today’s celebration by letting us give your flag the TLC it deserves.

The song features four verses, though most of us know only the first stanza. Here is the entire song:

“O say can you see by the dawn’s early light,

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,

O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,

Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,

In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:

‘Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,

A home and a country, should leave us no more?

Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation.

Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it 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!”