Show 0 1 1 y s er S i p. p R t k 3 X Il r gi a aY d y gas sis T eKe Washington D I C. C H LI L 1 Base or of Kea Memorial Monument I I I at Tort rr By y ELMO SCOTT WATSON HE other day a group of or people r gathered In the crypt of or the magnificent magnIficent magnificent mag mag- Washington cathedral In our National Capital and unveiled a abronze abronze abronze bronze tablet which was pres presented by the District of or Columbia chapter chapter chap ter of ot the United States Daughters ti tio o of 1812 The principal speaker k oB OB on that occasion was Maj Francis Scott of ot FrancIs Francis Francis Fran Fran- Smith Key great grandson cis Scott Key Thus there was erected erect erect- erected erect erect- r. r ed another memorial to honor the name of or the man who gave to the American flag whose birthday we celebrate on June 14 the name of ot The Star Spangled Bann Banner r and who gave to its n national anthem There are three other Imposing memorials bich perpetuate the name of or Francis Scott ey One of them Is the monument which stands ier his grave In Mt Olivet cemetery In Fredrick Fredrick Fredrick Fred Fred- rick Md On it Is a tablet Inscribed Written y I Francis Scott Key Born August 9 1780 1750 pled lIed January 11 11 1843 and t there ere follows U the e ent's nt's acs o of The Star Spangled Banner Another I the huge two dollar two Francis Scott Key hey ridge across the Potomac river which connects connects' ie e cities clUes of ot Washington and what was once id lId Georgetown now known ns as West Washing- Washing ln ID D. D The Georgetown end o of this bridge Is on onie onie le ie site of or Keys Key's old home in that city While ie te bridge was under construction a bill came came P I In congress for an appropriation for the Maintenance of ot the Georgetown bridge across ie ie e Potomac river a a name which had been iven iren its predecessor there in 1820 Through t the e Torts of patriotic societies who declared that the nation should honor the American poet- poet Francis Scott Key instead of ot King eorge eorge orge of England since Georgetown Is named Jr r the British monarch the name of ot the bridge bridges as s changed and under its present name it is a i. i reminder of ot the connection of ot the au- au or of our national anthem with the history f our National Capital Perhaps the e most Imposing of ol all aU the Key is the one which was dedicated by resident Harding in 1922 1022 at Fort McHenry ear Baltimore where occurred the Incident hick Ich gave to Francis Scott Key his enduring line ime Topped by the symbolic statue of a must must- lan In n playing a lyre which is said to to be the single c cast st bronze statue in existence I ills Ws s monument has on its stone stone base a a frieze ze wring earing a a. relief bas portrait of Key surrounded J I other symbolic figures and nd bearing these Francis Scott Key Born 1780 1750 Died 3 To Francis Scott Key hey author of The Star Dangled Banner and to the soldiers and sailors rho Jo o took part in the Battle of ot North Korth Point and he e Defense of Fort In the War of ot s1 r The he story of ot how Francis Scott Key hey came to trite rite The Star Spangled Banner and thus ire ive a n new name to our Oa flag flagg Is familiar r to all nIl Americans But Dut not many of them know much bout out the man himself Key was born on an state tate In Frederick county Maryland known as terra August 9 1780 One o of his sisters nna Arnold K Key was married to Roger Brooke Brooket t cy a prominent Maryland lawyer who later Home rne nine secretary of or the treasury b but t more faa fa- fa a s as chief chic justice o of the United States States-a Stat States s-a s a act act ct which may have had something to do with withy's withy's tt ys y's s turning to the study o of law Soon Boon aft after r his graduation from St St. Johns John's ollege at Annapolis Key was married to Mary lajioe raylee lo Lloyd and began the practice of law In But In 1801 he moved moed to Georgetown In n the District of or Columbia where he formed Partnership with his uncle Philip Barton Key host of his life Ufe was spent in Georgetown where wheres s home hODle from 1808 to 1828 was as as at at M street feet et but a short distance from the foot of or the hey 1 bridge It was In t this house that he was when he wrote rhe Star Spangled Banana Ban- Ban r an and ana it was this house which which a patriotic the Francis Scott Key Memorial association f On of f which Admiral Dewey was tIent tried Cd unsuccessfully to save from c- c b bon b- b n Bere Here were born Keys Key's eleven children six ys and five girls hey ey was a la lawyer tawyer ot of high reputation In Georgetown r and rated as aSa a leading citizen of the c com community U S so It II h was only natural perhaps that of he Se i a ai Should i be aPPealed to to secure the release Dr i r. r i William Beanes of or Marlboro Md wh who ho had Upper era been en arrested arrested by Ross Hoss the British gonCh gen gen- Ch r Che as Ross retired d to the British sh fleet In top toni easel Pae bay after the burning of Washing Washing- Ina n N f a letter to his mother under date 1 1 Somber September 1814 Key wrote an am nd going Dg in ln the morning to Baltimore to proceed roc e of ot v In a flag to Gen Ross Old Doc Beanes oho oh h th Is tal taken talen en Prisoner by the enemy threaten a n to carry him off off- Some of ot his S iO go have urged d mo me to apply for a flag flaR to and Dr i i r. r try to procure his release I hop to tot toi ih i r h t 15 r 1 t. t t y i o tW House in rt Baltimore r where here original wa Banner d made de L 71 Y 1 S 5 i C r ANCH fi r i ti Y i ti D A Monument at Frederick T Md return In about 8 or 10 days though it Is uncertaIn uncertain under under- tain tam as I do not know where to find the fleet Then followed Keys Key's historic vigil which ended by uby the dawns dawn's early light when he saw that our flag was still there and his Inspiration for forthe forthe forthe the poem which made him forever famous It Is not commonly known perhaps that Key was also the author of ot another notable song song He was an Episcopalian a vestryman for tor St. St Johns John's church In Georgetown and he wrote for tor the church hymnal a hymn bearing the title Lord With Glowing Heart I Praise Thee He also wrote numerous s sonnets but It is said that his wife showed such Indifference to his poetic gifts that she frequently used sed the papers upon which he wrote them for tor curl papers Although his principal fame rests upon one one song Key had a distinguished public career as the result of ot his legal egal profession During the administrations Ions of ot Presidents Jacl Jackson and Van VanBuren VanBuren VanBuren Buren he was three e times appointed United States district attorney and held that position at the time o of his death If It we remember I Francis Scott Key as the theman theman theman man who gave us the name of ot The Star Spangled Spangled Spangled Span Span- Banner for tor our flag we shou should d also remember remember remember re re- re- re member with him the woman who made the flag which Inspired his famous poem She was I Mrs Mary Yo Young ng p Pickersgill who was vas living in Ha Baltimore In 1814 when the news came that a British fleet was on its way to attack this nest of ot hornets at the head of Chesapeake bay as the British called It because manned Baltimore-manned government ves vessels els and Baltimore privateers had been harassing British shipping more than had the vessels vessel of ot any other ther American city While preparations were under way to strengthen Fort McHenry l Baltimore's principal defense It was discovered that the fort had no suitable flag to run up to the top of its flagpole le Flags were not sold in stores In those days When one was wanted It was necessary to employ employ employ em em- ploy some woman to make male It Upon h hearing aring Inquiries inquiries in In- as to who In Baltimore alU ore could make a flag Commodore Barney Darney and Gen John Stricker men whom everybody knew and respected stepped forward They rhey announced that there was a woman In their city who was beyond doubt the best flag maker In all America havIng having having hav hav- ing inherited the art from her mother who tad had made flags during the Revolutionary war Who Is this woman Inquired those present Her ner name Is Mary Young Pickersgill Further Further Further Fur Fur- ther conversation developed the fact that she was rel related ted to both Commodore Barney and General Stricker These two officers were deputized deputized to call upon Mary and see what could be bo done Soon all nil was hustle and bustle In the Pick Pick- ti home home All household duties were suspended suspend suspend- ed ed until nUi the great flag was completed Direct evidence o of the making of the flag Hag Is handed down to us by Caroline Pickersgill daughter of Mary who sn says s The flag being so very large my mother was obliged to obtain I permission t to spread It out in a neighboring malt house opposite the mansion of ot Charles Carroll Canon of ot Carr Carrollton signer of ot the Declaration of ot Independence Inde Independence independence inde- inde who was still stUl living I remember seeIng seeing seeIng see- see Ing my mother down on her knees placing the tho stars In position and sewing them fast And then after the completion of ot the flag ag she superIntended superintended super super- Intended the topping or heading of ot It that Is Is having It fastened In the most secure manner to prevent Its being torn away by balls The wisdom of ot her precautions was shown during the engagement many shots piercing It but It still l remained firm on the staff starr Colonel Armistead who commanded Ft Mc Mr McHenry Henry declared after the battle that no one but Mary Pickersgill should mend it The flag J I think contained yards of ot bunting and my mj mother worked many nights until twelve o'clock to complete It In the given time S So It was this flag of Mary Pickersgill's which flew over Fort McHenry on that eventful September September September Sep Sep- day which inspired Francis Scott Key hey and which Is the original Star Spangled Banner Banner Banner Ban Ban- ner long preserved by Colonel ArmIstead's grandson Eben Appleton which now Is exhibited exhibit exhibit- ed In the National museum In Washington Doctor Doctor Doctor Doc Doc- tor Walcott the late secretary of ot the Smithsonian Smithson Smithson- ian Institution declared the old flag to be the most valued treasure we possess At the request request request re re- re- re quest of the Star-Spangled Star Banner Centennial commission In n 1914 1014 It was carefully backed with Irish linen and It Is now good for tor another hundred years years or more Mary Pickersgill came from famous Revolutionary Revolutionary stock One of ot her bel uncles was Col CoI Benjamia Benjamin Benjamin Ben Ben- jamin jamia Flower commissary general of ot the Revolutionary Revolutionary Revo Revo- stores In Philadelphia He was a friend and associate of G General Washington Her mother Rebecca ca Flower Young according to good authority made the first flag of the Revolution Revolution Rev Rev- under General Washington's direction The first flag of ot the Revolution was no doubt the Grand Union flag under which Washington took command of ot the American army at CambrIdge Cambridge Cambridge Cam Cam- bridge Mass January 1 1 1776 It bore the thirteen thirteen thirteen thir- thir thir thir- teen red and white stripes signifying the thir thin thirteen thirteen teen united colonies and in the upper left-hand left corner the British Union the red v vertical cross crossot of ot St St. George of or England and the white diagonal diagonal diagonal onal cross of St. St Andrew of ot Scotland This was to signify that that- the colonies were still loyal to England and I If her oppression ceased they would not separate from her Six weeks weeks' later In February 1776 Rebecca Young gave sav birth to a daughter destined to be bethe bethe bethe the maker of the original Star Spangled Banner Banner Danner Ban Dan ner I Congress had taken steps as early as October 1775 to establish a regular American navy Commodore Hopkins was appointed commander In chief and John Paul Jones the senior of ot the five first lieutenants declared he hoisted the Flag of America on board his flagship Alfred when Hopkins came on board the first time It t was ever displayed on a regular man of This flag had however already appeared In Baltimore which was a na noted shipbuilding place This had been sent by Hopkins to Joshua Barney Barney Barney Bar Bar- ney second officer on the gun 10 sloop the Hornet Whether Rebecca Young was the maker of the first flags of ot the new United States navy we cannot now tell but as Caroline Pickersgill her granddaughter emphatically stated later on My grandmother Rebecca Young made the first flag of the revolution under G General Washington's Washington's Washington's Washing Washing- tons ton's direction and for this reason my mother was selected by Commodore Barney and Gene General Gene tl Stricker to make male the Star-Spangled Star Banner Si t would seem there could be little doubt on that score Not Kot only Is the original Star Spangled Banner Banner Danner Ban Dan ner preserved but the house In which It was planned and made is also still standing Thanks to an organization of ot patriotic men and women known as ns the Star Spangled Banner Flag House association money moncy Is being raised by popular subscription to preserve re the tho historic home In which Mrs Mary Nary Young lived from 1776 to 1857 as ns a shrine to which Americana may make their patriotic pilgrimages Q by Western Newspaper Union |