The Forth of July

The 4th of July. This is a holiday that doesn’t have very much preparation; we don’t give out or receive gifts. We don’t run around shopping and preparing for weeks in advance. It just seems that it is not a very big deal but what an important day to remember.

Growing up I was always taught to be very respectful of our flag and our country. That means when the flag was being presented you stand up, put your hand over your heart, take off your hat if you have one on and stand quietly and respectfully. Which I have always tried to do but I don’t think I ever really grasped the importance of doing so or even why we were following these actions until recently.
This weekend as we gathered as a family Dad tried to help us understand by teaching us about the star spangled banner and the circumstances of how it was written. I am sure I was told this before but it really clicked with me this time. I am going to try and tell the story here.
"The Star Spangled Banner"
During the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key who was a lawyer, went aboard a British ship to negotiate the release of some American prisoners. One of the prisoners was a physician that the Americans needed back on our land. Once on the ship Francis Scott Key and the prisoners were not allowed to leave, Francis was told that there would be no need after that night to make the negotiation because there was going to be an attack on Baltimore and the British army would win the war as soon as the attack was over. The entire British fleet was waiting beyond the ship that Francis was on ready to put all of their force into taking down the city. The Americans were given an out though they just had to take down the American flag that flew over Fort McHenry showing that they would surrender. As long as the flag was still flying the British would still attack. As a result of this, Francis was unable to do anything but watch the bombarding of the American forces on the night of September 13, 1814.
When the smoke cleared the next morning, Francis was able to see that the American flag was still waving and he knew that the Americans did not surrender. It was this experience that inspired Francis to write a poem describing his experience, "The Defense of Fort McHenry" it has become better known as “The Star Spangled Banner.
Oh, 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, thro' the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming

And the rockers' red glare, the bombs bursting in air
Gave proof thro' 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
Later Francis found out that people had literally help up the flagpole over the night to keep the flag flying. They were killed holding up the American flag.
I am proud to be an American and I am so thankful for the people who have given up their lives so that my family and I can live in this beautiful country.