The Star Spangled Banner

It was late August of the year 1814, and our young and fragile collection of states was once again in a vicious conflict with the overwhelming military powers of Great Britain. The war of 1812 was coming to a sad end. Although America had been set on a firm foundation by the leadership of George Washington some 30 years previous, she was fragile and inexperienced. This became evident in an horrific fashion as Great Britain overran Washington and burned down the Capitol and the Whitehouse in which then President Madison had been living. With Washington in flames, President Madison in hiding and the American troops on the run, the moral of our young country was seemingly shattered.

Great Britain then amassed its intimidating Naval fleet for one last crushing blow against the colonists with the intention of closing the deal and gaining back control of their colonies. The target was the town of Baltimore in early September. With the smoke of Washington on the horizon, Baltimore felt the menacing gaze of the British war machine. The town of Baltimore was guarded in part by Fort McHenry under the command of Lieutenant Colonel George Armistead. Armistead and the nearly 1,000 men under his command watched the growing strength of the British Army and Navy in the early weeks of September.

In the preliminary ground assaults on the city, an especially loved town physician, named Dr. William Beanes, was captured by the British forces and taken out to a prison ship. The broken hearted townspeople hurriedly put together an envoy to go out and procure the release of this non-combatant. Two men comprised this envoy, Colonel John Skinner and Attorney Francis Scott Key. They took with them testimonials of actual British soldiers who had received exemplary care at the hands of Dr. Beanes. On September 7th this small envoy sailed out to the British fleet under a flag of truce. The British commanders agreed to release the good doctor, but not until after the quickly approaching battle. The three Americans had seen too much to allow them to return to the town.

Within the fort, the attitude was grim and steadfast. They held little hope of victory, but, to a man, they were resolutely against surrender. Not completely without honor, the British admiral offered a simple sign by which the tattered American regulars might show their submission. They had but to remove the offensive stars and stripes from their prominent location flying high over the fort.
Upon receipt of this generous offer, Colonel Armistead commissioned a secret task. A woman by the name of Mary Pickersgill was paid the healthy sum of $405.90 to sew a gigantic flag that measured 30 feet in width and 42 feet in length. In the Colonel’s own words, it was of a size that “the British would have no trouble seeing it from a distance.”

Late on September 12th the British fleet opened fire on the fort to gain range parameters and set the ships in position. From the deck of the British frigate “Surprise” the three captive Americans watched through looking glasses in anguish and humiliation as the Stars and Stripes were lowered. But then, just as they were about to lower their looking glasses there arose a flag so great they could see it with the naked eye. The Americans had given their answer to the British fleet.

Before dawn on the 13th the guns of 16 British warships began a barrage that lasted for 25 hours. The noise was a deafening roar as, without a single moment of reprieve, the explosions rained down on the fort throughout the day. From their position beyond the range of fire, the three Americans watched with great emotion as their loved ones received the unbearable punishment of the bombings. They could not see how the men were faring or how much damage was being inflicted against their city, but they could, by the light of the sun, see that the flag was still standing. The merciless bombings continued throughout they day and into the night.

Now it was too dark to see the flag. Only when a bomb prematurely exploded in mid air close to the great flag could they see by the momentary red glare that it still stood. All night the canons roared as the British focused their attention upon the flag itself. “If they will not lower their flag we will lower it for them.” Suddenly, in the dark of the morning, the canons fell silent. The three Americans could not see through the darkness and tell if the fort had finally submitted to the foreign power on her shores. Francis Scott Key stood at the rail of the ship and strained to see as the sun began to give the morning fog a light glow. Then as the mists shifted and the ramparts of the fort became visible the sun lighted upon the shredded remains of the stars and the stripes. The wind revived the old flag and it unfurled in defiance of those who would have it torn down.

On that British ship, Francis Scott Key pulled a letter from his coat pocket and began to scribble the words with which we have all become familiar:

Today there is a battle set in array that far surpasses any during the war of 1812.
The battle I speak of is that one in defense of your testimony.
Like the brave soldiers at Fort McHenry you have a testimony of your convictions and beliefs and loyalties.
You have been granted the privilege and the responsibility to keep the standard of your captain flying high in the face of the barrage of this world.
All too often Christians lower their colors to avoid offence and too often submit to the forces of peer pressure and societal norms.
This afternoon I want to challenge you to take a stand.

Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Nearly 200 years ago, brave men of Fort McHenry agreed together that regardless of the consequences, they would stand together in defense of liberty and by no means would they allow the colors to be taken down.
Let us now determine that come what may, we will not allow His standard to fall.
We will stand together and fly the colors of our Christian testimony high and consistent for all to see, for certainly there are those who are watching.
They are looking for someone with a cause that is worth living for.
Won’t you decide with me today that you will stand for God and raise your testimony for all to see?