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Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember and trust in the name of the LORD, our God. 

O say can you see, by the dawns early light, what so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming, whose broad stripes and bright stars thro' the perilous fight, o'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets' red glare, the bomb bursting in air, gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there. O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep where the foe's haughty host and dread silence reposes, what is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, as it fitfully blows, half conceals half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, in full glory reflected now shines in the stream, 'tis the star-spangled banner- o long may it wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

O thus be it ever when free men shall stand between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation! Blest with vict'ry and peace,  may the heav'n-rescued land praise the Power that hath made and preserv'd us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just; and this be our motto: "In God is our trust!" And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave o're the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Francis Scott Key was born August 1, 1779, in Frederick County, Maryland.  He grew up on a wealthy plantation.  Many of his family members practiced law and became elected officials, and other members fought in the American Revolution.  In 1789, at the age of 10, he went to St. John's College where he studied Latin, Greek, Arithmetic, Grammar, and Science.  After graduation, he studied law and became an apprentice to his uncle who was a lawyer.  In 1802, he married Mary Lloyd and they had 11 children.  In1807, he became a prominent lawyer.  Due to financial hardship, his father was forced to sell the family plantation in 1811.  Francis and Mary took out a substantial loan and purchased the property for $8,500.  Later in his life, he was an advisor to Andrew Jackson and served as a DA for Washington D.C., from 1833 to 1841. Two years later, on January 11, 1843, at the age of 64, Francis died of pleurisy.

During the war of 1812, he served briefly as the Quartermaster (Petty Officer) for the Georgetown artillery unit.  Early in September 1814, after the British burned down Washington, D.C., as a prominent attorney, Key was asked to negotiate the release of a friend and doctor William Beanes, who was imprisoned during the siege of Baltimore. He was accompanied by a colonel and letters from President Madison. Key successfully negotiated Beanes release, with one caveat... They were not allowed to leave the British vessel and return to shore until after the British attack on Fort McHenry.  During the Battle of Fort McHenry, on September 13, 1814, after a long, 25 hours, of defending Baltimore and the harbor of Maryland, the United States militia defeated the British. The next morning, on September 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key was astounded to see a 30 X 42-foot flag, that hung on a garrison was still standing, the fort had survived. The flag was tattered and torn from the assault of the British attacks. He was inspired by the flag and penned "The Star-Spangled Banner". The lyrics were published by the Baltimore Patriot on September 20, 1814.

In 1916, President Woodrow, it was not until March 3, Wilson signed an Executive Order to make "The Star-Spangled Banner” the national anthem. However, it was not until 1931, that President Herbert Hoover signed a public law that declared " The Star-Spangled Banner” the national anthem of the United States of America.