From the September 10, 2012,Voice of America "War of 1812 Flag Still Inspires After 200 Years" by Ted Landphair.
The British fleet bombarded Fort McHenry, guarding Baltimore, Maryland, for 25 straight hours. Running out of ammunition and without taking the fort's surrender, the fleet sailed away.
This was a very fortunate day for the United States after the British capture of Washington, DC, a few weeks earlier. Then, there was that Francis Scott Key putting pen to paper writing about what he had seen.
Fort McHenry was flying the largest battle flag ever made at the time. The fort's commander, Lt. Col. George Armistead (whose son would die fighting for the Confederacy) had ordered it raised as a symbol of defiance. As a result, it was shot full of holes.
Afterwards, Armistead allowed several pieces, including one of the 15 stars to be snipped off and given away as souvenirs.
"Oh Say Can You See..." --Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
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