With the Fourth of July right around the corner, I am sharing some holiday posts beginning with this one about The Star Spangled Banner. I thought it would be fun to share some facts and printables about the song that was declared as the USA National anthem in 1931.

“About The Star Spangled Banner”

The lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner” come from “Defence of Fort M’Henry”, a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by British ships of the Royal Navy in the Chesapeake Bay during the Battle of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812. The lyrics were set to a well-known British song, “To Anacreon in Heaven.”

The flag that was raised over Fort McKenry on September 16, 1814 is considered the Star Spangled Banner. It measures 42 by 30 feet and was made by Mary Pickersgill. The American officers wanted a huge flag so that the British would have no trouble seeing it in the distance and know that the Americans were not defeated. The flag is displayed in the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of American History in Washington, DC.

The song’s first confirmed performance at a sporting event was at the 1918 World Series.During World War II, the tradition of singing the anthem at sporting events spread.

On March 3, 1931, the “Banner” was designated the national anthem by an act of Congress.

The song consists of 4 verses, but it is very rare to hear any but the first performed. One poll showed that 61% of Americans don’t know all of the words to the song. Of those who claim to know all the words, only 39 percent know what comes after “Whose broad stripes and bright stars.”

 

Resources: Smithsonian, Wikipedia, Songfacts

Here’s a printable version of these facts if you’d like to share them.

Click HERE for Download link

Here are the cute printables I came up with of The Star Spangled Banner!

Download top print HERE——–>> JPEG or PDF

Download bottom print HERE——–>> JPEG or PDF

For a post on the USA and the meaning of the country colors red, white & blue as well as a children’s coloring page see this post HERE

The meaning of the USA Red, White and Blue colors. Free printable at inkhappi.com

Coloring page to teach kids about the colors and the USA flag at inkhappi.com

Enjoy!

Jillene