Star Spangled Banner

Gary Trichter

 

 

The garrison flag, measuring 30 X 42, seen waving o'er Ft. McHenry on  September 14, 1814 atop the 90 foot flag pole had to to the most magnificent sight.  Gary Trichter, the guest speaker for the joint meeting, told of meaning behind the words of the "Star Spangled Banner" written by Frances Scott Key while being held captive aboard the HMS Sunrise and the HMS Minden.    Scott and John Stuart Skinner were sent by President James Madison to secure exchange of prisoners one of whom was Dr. Williams Beanes, physician. Unfortunately they heard the plans for the attack on Baltimore were detained.    The firing on Fort McHenry began on September 13 and lasted for 25 hours.  The storm flag, 17 X 25, was waving as rain storms passed through the area. As rain storms raged, bombs busted, rockets glared- Fort McHenry under George Armistead's men endured everything the 16 warships fired at them - over 18,000 explosions had gone off and could be heard up to 8 miles away.   

 

At 7:30 September 14, 1814 the Garrison Flag unfurled  and waved over Fort McHenry, cannon fired from Fort McHenry and the soldiers sang out "Yankee Doodle Dandy".  They were not defeated.  They were the home of the brave.     

 

In 1931 President Hoover signed The Star Spangled Banner as the national anthem.

 

Gary Trichter and John Payner, whom also spoke with Mr Trichter,  gave several quotes from Thomas Jefferson several that could be found in the booklet "The Constitution of the United States" that were placed at our place settings. If you see something wrong wrong, speak up - the greatest danger comes from with in.