National Anthem Day honors “The Star-Spangled Banner,” made the official U.S. anthem in 1931 under Herbert Hoover. The lyrics were written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key after witnessing the British bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 and seeing the American flag still flying at dawn. Originally titled “The Defence of Fort M’Henry,” the poem was later set to music and became a powerful symbol of endurance, courage, and freedom—reminding Americans of the resilience represented by their flag.

Read the full article here: https://familyschool.org/spotlight/starspangled-banner-7

This episode was created using Notebook LM voice-overs and original research by Rosemary Pollock, historian and published author, who holds an MA in U.S. History and an MA in U.S. History with a focus on the History of Science and Medicine.

Produced by Isaac Okawa with American Heritage Worldwide.