March 3, 1931 -- It was on this day in 1931 that The Star-Spangled Banner became the official national anthem of the United States. The lyrics come from a poem written by Francis Scott Key more than a century before, Defence of Fort McHenry. The tune for the Star-Spangled Banner comes from an old British drinking song called To Anacreon in Heaven, which was very popular at mens social clubs in London during the 1700s. Francis Scott Key himself did the pairing of the tune to his poem. It was a big hit. For the next century, a few different anthems were used at official U.S. ceremonies, including My Country Tis of Thee and Hail Columbia. The U.S. Navy adopted The Star-Spangled Banner for its officialdom in 1889, and the presidency did in 1916. But it wasnt until this day in 1931 — just 80 years ago — that Congress passed a resolution and Hoover signed into law the decree that The Star-Spangled Banner was the official national anthem of the United States of America. amhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/national-anthem.aspx
Posted on: Mon, 03 Mar 2014 23:43:48 +0000
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