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although many people do not remember the national, by changing it, even less people would remember it. (EL)
 * The US should __not__ change the national anthem.**

Fort McHenry is located at the entrance to Baltimore harbor, and during the summer of 1813, Major George Armistead served as that stronghold's commander. Major Armistead was ready to defend the fort, but he wanted a flag that would identify his position, making it visible to the enemy from a distance. (SM)

Mary and her thirteen-year-old daughter Caroline worked in a large space at a local brewery. They used 400 yards of best quality wool bunting. They cut 15 stars that measured two feet from point to point, and eight red and seven white stripes, each two feet wide. They laid the material on the malt house floor, where it was sewn together. By August it was finished. It measured 30 by 42 feet and cost $405.90 (SM)

In the predawn darkness, Key waited for the sight that would end his anxiety: the joyous sight of Gen. Armistead's great flag blowing in the breeze. When daylight came, Key spotted the huge flag waving above the Ft. McHenry. Thrilled by the sight of the flag and the knowledge that the fort had not fallen, Key took a letter from his pocket, and began to write some verses on the back of it. Later, after the British fleet had withdrawn, Key checked into a Baltimore hotel, and completed his poem on the defense of Fort McHenry. He then sent it to a printer for duplication on handbills, and within a few days the poem was put to the music of an old English song. Both the new song and the flag became known as "The Star-Spangled Banner."(SM)

Although the song was immediately popular, it remained just one of several patriotic airs until it was officially named our national anthem by Congress in 1931.(SM)

Wherever it is played and sung, "The Star-Spangled Banner" stands for the love, confidence and pride that every American has in "the land of the free and the home of the brave." Source: 'The Story Of The Star Spangled Banner by Lester David (K.S.) [] This is a website about whether the Star Spangled Banner was a drinking song or not. (K.S.) The lyrics of "To Anacreon in Heaven", where the "The Star Spangled Banner's melody is from, was about a Greek poet named Anacreon who wrote poems extensively about wine. The actual melody had nothing to do with drinking.