WASHINGTON – As we celebrate our country’s independence and freedom, there’s perhaps no greater symbol than the American flag, often called the Star Spangled Banner. Today, the original flag, which served as the inspiration for Francis Scott Key and the National Anthem, sits in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. and how it got there is an interesting story.
Author Tom McMillan details that story in his new book, Our Flag Was Still There: The Star Spangled Banner That Survived the British and 200 years – and the Armistead Family Who Saved It.
“The song, written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key, was inspired by the flag that flew at the Battle of Baltimore at Ft. McHenry,” said McMillan in an interview with CBN News. “After all of the fighting, Key saw it still proudly waving in the wind.”
McMillan explained how the song is about Key figuring out who had won the battle.
“Through the mist he sees our flag,” he added. “Our flag was still there. There are four verses to that song and it’s kind of sequential.”
After the battle, Commander George Armistead took the flag home as a souvenir.
“A complete violation of Army regulations,” said McMillan.
The remainder of this article is available in its entirety at CBN