Star Spangled Banner Flag Smithsonian
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Defence of Our National Anthem

On this day in 1814, United States soldiers raised this 30′ x 42′ foot garrison flag over Fort McHenry in Baltimore to celebrate a critical victory over the British during the War of 1812:

Star Spangled Banner National Anthem

Seeing those “broad stripes and bright stars” inspired Francis Scott Key to write a poem entitled “Defence of Fort M’Henry.” It soon became the song we know as “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and eventually, Our national anthem.

In turn, that flag, and the following words from the fourth stanza of Key’s poem inspired Our Lost Founding to create this t-shirt design:

“Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto – “In God is our trust,”

Star-Spangled Motto

 

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Star-Spangled Motto
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In God We Trust: Our Official National Motto

On this day in 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs the law establishing In God We Trust as the official motto of the United States. The motto had been in use, unofficially, since 1864.

First, however, in 1863, Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase wrote this to the Mint Director:
“I approve your mottoes, only suggesting that on that with the Washington obverse the motto should begin with the word OUR, so as to read OUR GOD AND OUR COUNTRY. And on that with the shield, it should be changed so as to read: IN GOD IS OUR TRUST.” 

Then, he lined through “IS OUR” and wrote “WE” above it.

Chase to Pollock December 9 1863 Our motto In God We Trust

It was on Flag Day in 1954 when Eisenhower signed the bill to include “under God” in the pledge he said:

“In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America’s heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country’s most powerful resource in peace and war.”

His sentiments in the above statement helps us understand his resolve to establish Our National Motto.

Despite the assertion of some that “E Pluribus Unum” is Our motto, today is the 65th anniversary of “In God We Trust” as Our Official Motto, and it’s worth celebrating.

In fact, a couplet from the final stanza of Our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” containing a variation of the motto, inspired Our “Star-Spangled Motto” t-shirt design:

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto – “In God is our trust,”

 Find yours HERE.

Star-Spangled Banner In God We Trust

 

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Fort McHenry Star Spangled Banner
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From “Defence of Fort M’Henry” to Our National Anthem

On this day in 1931, President Herbert Hoover signs a congressional act making “The Star-Spangled Banner” the official national anthem of the United States.

On September 14, 1814, during the War of 1812, American attorney Francis Scott Key was detained aboard a British ship in Baltimore Harbor where he witnessed the massive overnight British bombardment of Fort McHenry. Seeing the American flag still flying in the morning inspired him to write his poem, the “Defence of Fort M’Henry.” A few months later, the poem was set to music of “To Anacreon in Heaven” and renamed “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

In God We Trust

As we (should) know, our National Motto is “In God We Trust,” and has been for over 60 years.
In fact, we find an early iteration of it in the fourth verse of “The Star-Spangled Banner”:

“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’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

It is that key couplet that inspired Our Star-Spangled Motto shirt, available HERE.

My visit to Fort McHenry in April 2014 was one “key” experience that led me to start Our Lost Founding.

Fort McHenry Star Spangled Banner National Anthem

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USS Constitution aka Old Ironsides
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USS Constitution and the U.S. Constitution

On this day in 1797, the USS Constitution, aka “Old Ironsides,” is launched from a Boston shipyard.

First, of course, it was President George Washington who signed the Naval Act of 1794 which authorized construction of the ship. Obviously, he named it after our founding document. Paul Revere provided its copper.

Naturally, President John Adams was on hand for the aforementioned launch ceremony in Boston.

The old frigate earned the nickname “Old Ironsides” during the War of 1812 for its amazing ability to avoid damage despite having defeated five British warships.

Then, its final engagement was the capture of a slave ship in 1853.

Providential Protection

In an interesting, perhaps providential parallel, the USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world, while the U.S. constitution is the oldest single governing document in the world.

Certainly, George Washington and John Adams acknowledged the role divine providence plays in our nation:

At his Inaugural Address on April 30, 1789 George Washington said:
“No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the People of the United States.”

We made a shirt from that quote, get yours in the Shop.

Also, at his inaugural address in Philadelphia in March the year the USS Constitution was launched, John Adams said:
“And may that Being who is supreme over all, the Patron of Order, the Fountain of Justice, and the Protector in all ages of the world of virtuous liberty, continue His blessing upon this nation and its Government and give it all possible success and duration consistent with the ends of His providence.”

Clearly, Divine protection will be necessary to keep both Constitutions afloat.

Finally, here is the final stanza of the aptly-titled poem “Old Ironsides” by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. from 1830, which helped the ship stay commissioned:

Oh, better that her shattered hulk
Should sink beneath the wave;
Her thunders shook the mighty deep,
And there should be her grave;
Nail to the mast her holy flag,
Set every threadbare sail,
And give her to the god of storms,
The lightning and the gale!

USS Constitution

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Francis Scott Key By the dawn's early light
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Francis Scott Key: “dawn’s early light” and “light of hope”

On this day in 1779, Francis Scott Key is born in Maryland. He was an attorney, author, and amateur poet. Of course, we know his name primarily because he penned the poem which later became the lyrics for our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner”.

He also penned the following praiseful poem in 1832:

Lord, With Glowing Heart I’d Praise Thee

Lord, with glowing heart I’d praise thee
For the bliss Thy love bestows,
For the pardoning grace that saves me,
And the peace that from it flows.
Help, O God, my weak endeavor;
This dull soul to rapture raise;
Thou must light the flame, or never
Can my love be warmed to praise.

Praise, my soul, the God that sought thee,
Wretched wanderer, far astray;
Found thee lost, and kindly brought thee
From the paths of death away;
Praise, with love’s devoutest feeling,
Him who saw they guilt-born fear,
And, the light of hope revealing,
Bade the blood-stained cross appear.

Lord, this bosom’s ardent feeling
Vainly would my lips express;
Low before Thy footstool kneeling,
Deign Thy supplicant’s prayer to bless;
Let Thy grace, my soul’s chief treasure,
Love’s pure flame within me raise;
And, since words can never measure,
Let my life show forth Thy praise.

Key was a Sunday school teacher at his church and also served as vice president of the American Sunday School Union. In addition, was an early supporter of the American Bible Society.

Morning and evening

Finally, what follows are a few excerpts from a letter he wrote to his children in 1812, shortly after making his will, to be read after his death:

“You have read your Bible: how God made us, what he requires of us, how Chirst died for us, how we must pray and strive to do everything right and to shun everything wrong.
…
Read your Bibles every morning and evening. Never forget your private prayers, both morning and evening, and throughout the day strive to think of God often and breathe a sincere supplication to Him for all things. … Do all possible good too all… everybody within your reach. … [D]o everything for God’s sake and consider yourselves always in his service.
Remember that you do not belong to yourselves. Christ has bought you, and his precious blood was your price.”

Francis Scott Key died in 1843.

Francis Scott Key By the dawn's early light

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Zachary Taylor
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Zachary Taylor : Over oath

On this day in 1850, President Zachary Taylor dies after four days of suffering from what his personal physicians concluded was cholera morbus. He was president for just 16 months.

He received an Army commission in 1808, became captain in 1810, major during the War of 1812. Later, he was a colonel in the Black Hawk War, earning the nickname “Old Rough and Ready.”
Eventually, he became a national hero during the Mexican-American War in 1846.

Taylor supported the Wilmot Proviso that “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part of…” the territory ceded by Mexico. 

His predecessor James K. Polk’s presidency ended on Sunday, March 4th, 1849. However, Taylor refused to be sworn in on the Sabbath, instead taking the oath of office on Monday, March 5th.

“Let us invoke… let us seek”

Zachary Taylor concluded his inaugural address with these still pertinent remarks:

“I congratulate you, my fellow-citizens, upon the high state of prosperity to which the goodness of Divine Providence has conducted our common country. Let us invoke a continuance of the same protecting care which has led us from small beginnings to the eminence we this day occupy, and let us seek to deserve that continuance by prudence and moderation in our councils, by well-directed attempts to assuage the bitterness which too often marks unavoidable differences of opinion, by the promulgation and practice of just and liberal principles, and by an enlarged patriotism, which shall acknowledge no limits but those of our own widespread Republic.”

Zachary Taylor White House portrait

 

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F. Scott Key Star Spangled Motto Our Cause it is Just War of 1812
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The War of 1812 : “A Just Cause” it is

On this day in 1812, the aptly-named War of 1812 begins when President James Madison requests a declaration of war. In his Special Message to Congress he pointed to “a series of acts hostile to the United States as an independent and neutral nation” by Great Britain.

Given the “crying enormity” of these acts and the “solemn alternative,” Madison made clear the source of his trust:
“Whether the United States shall continue passive under these progressive usurpations and these accumulating wrongs, or, opposing force to force in defense of their national rights, shall commit a just cause into the hands of the Almighty Disposer of Events…” (emphasis added)

Our cause

Then, on September 13, 1814, toward the end of this war, the sight of our “broad stripes and bright stars” “by the dawn’s early light,” despite the blistering British Bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore harbor, inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the poem the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
The first verse of his poem became Our national anthem in 1931.

That same flag, and a key couplet from the fourth verse (did you know there was a fourth verse?) of Key’s poem inspired the design for Our “Star Spangled Motto” t-shirt:

“Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust.’ “

Today, our National Motto is, of course, “In God We Trust.”

Find your shirt in time for the Fourth of July, HERE!

FS Key Star Spangled Motto Our Cause it is Just War of 1812

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Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery
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Memorial Day : “The cost of a free and undivided republic”

On this day in 1868, a crowd of 5,000 gathers at Arlington National Cemetery for the first Decoration Day. This day is now known as Memorial Day.

It was a few weeks earlier, on May 5, that General John A. Logan, leader of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization for Union Civil War veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance.
General Logan stated: “We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.”

Then, at Arlington, James A Garfield, who would become the 20th president, addressed the crowd:
“The faith of our people in the stability and permanence of their institutions was like their faith in the eternal course of nature. Peace, liberty, and personal security were blessings as common and universal as sunshine and showers and fruitful seasons; and all sprang from a single source, the old American principle that all owe due submission and obedience to the lawfully expressed will of the majority. This is not one of the doctrines of our political system—it is the system itself. It is our political firmament, in which all other truths are set, as stars in Heaven. It is the encasing air, the breath of the Nation’s life.”

Later, he added: “The voices of these dead will forever fill the land like holy benedictions.”… [H]ere let them rest, asleep on the Nation’s heart, entombed in the Nation’s love!”

“We honor… we pray…”

More recently, in his Presidential Proclamation Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 1966, President Lyndon B Johnson said:
“On this Memorial Day, as we honor the memory of brave men who have borne our colors in war, we pray to God for His mercy. We pray for the wisdom to find a way to end this struggle of nation against nation, of brother against brother. We pray that soon we may begin to build the only true memorial to man’s valor in war — a sane and hopeful environment for the generations to come.”

He then went on to “urge all of the people of this Nation to join me in prayer to the Almighty for the safety of our Nation’s sons and daughters…, for His blessing on those who have sacrificed their lives for this Nation in this and all other struggles, and for His aid in building a world where freedom and justice prevail, and where all men live in friendship, understanding, and peace.”

Indeed, may we pray similarly for all present and future struggles. Finally, may you  have a blessed and reflective Memorial Day.

Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery

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F. Scott Key Star Spangled Motto Our Cause it is Just War of 1812
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Did You Know? From one F. Scott to another

On this day in 1920, This Side of Paradise by famous St. Paul, Minnesota native F. Scott Fitzgerald, is published. It was the first novel by the author of the more well-known title The Great Gatsby.

In fact, Fitzgerald was named after his second cousin, three times removed on his father’s side. That F. Scott is also famous for something he wrote.

That side of paradise…

Of course, that first F. Scott was none other than Francis Scott Key, who penned The Star-Spangled Banner, of which the first verse is our national anthem.

Fitzgerald’s final resting place is in Maryland, about thirty miles from Key, and about forty miles from Fort McHenry, where Key saw our flag “by the dawn’s early light.”

Finally, see our Men’s and Women’s Star-Spangled Motto “In God is Our Trust” shirts, inspired by the first F. Scott, are here in Our Shop.

FS Key Star Spangled Motto Our Cause it is Just War of 1812

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