So today is Flag Day and one quasi-news website I like to read from time to time carried a link to a story about the Star Spangled Banner. Appropriately titled, "Our National Anthem," it is written by Russian immigrant Isaac Asimov (you know, the ultimate Sci-Fi author) who confesses his weakness for our American Anthem (all four verses) and reminds us that Francis Scott Key wrote it to tell a story.
Click above for that story. It's not long, and will make you swell with patriotism, and maybe learn a little bit of our nations long-forgotten history. On a personal note, Bryan's great-great grandfather was named Commodore Perry Connally (b.1824 TN), in honor of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry who led the Battle of Lake Erie. What can I say, they were a patriotic bunch. One brother was James K. Polk Connally - and if you don't know who James K. Polk is, please don't tell me.
The picture above was taken at the Star Spangled Banner Flag House and Museum in Baltimore, where Mary Pickersgill lived and was commissioned to sew the 30' x 42' flag for Fort McHenry. The actual flag that inspired our national anthem is housed in the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. While the museum if currently closed, it will reopen in 2008 with a new gallery for this national treasure.
1 comment:
I'll give this link to Dean who is the biggest patriot around. Flag Day is even his birthday (he was early though - his due date was July 4!)
Happy Flag Day!
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