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Show NATIONAL ANTHEM ANNIUERSARY By Shirley Charwin Tabiona, Utah As the small hours of morning morn-ing grew near, Francis Scott Key strained his eyes toward Fort McHenry. With an anxious heart he wondered if the Americans Amer-icans had survived the heavy bombardment from the sixteen British ships. j Key, a Georgetown lawyer, had been held aboard a British ship until after the battle. He had went aboard the vessel to secure the release of an aged American doctor. During the long night he had listened to the Americans answering gun for gun. He had watched the rockets red glare"; the bombs bursting in air. Ag the thundeTing storm of battle ceased Key's soul wondered won-dered if the flag was still there. The long watching and waiting had ended. Through the morning mist he could see something waving. "What is that which the breeze o're the towering steep as it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?" dis-closes?" Then as the morning first beams show the American flag proudly waving, Key's heart is filled with prayer and thanksgiving. thanks-giving. Taking from his pocket a crumpled envelope he poured ' out the words we know as the Star Spangled Banner. I This song shows the true an-1 an-1 xiety Key felt for the safety of his country. Of the many other patriotic songs none have reach-j reach-j ed to the heart of the American people like this song. It was 1 made our National Anthem on March 3, 1931. . ! Key was born in 1780 and died in 1843. j Up until 1814 when the Star 1 Spangled Banner was written, . "Yankee Doodle" was a favorite favor-ite patriotic song. "America," secured a permanent per-manent place in the hearts of I Americans. It was written in ! 1832 by Rev. Samuel Francis Smith to the tune, "God Save the Queen." During the Civil War many songs put in their bid for the national anthem. Dr. George F. Root wrote a vast quantity of military songs. "Battle Cry of F r e e d o m," "Tramp, Tramp,-Tramp Tramp,-Tramp the Boys Are Marching," 'Just Before the Battle Mother," Moth-er," "The Vacant Chair," and many others. No song has breathed forth the love of country, belief in justice, faith in God and the conquest of right over wrong as the Star Spangled Banner has. "And the Star Spangled Banner Ban-ner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave." |