Before the Star Spangled Banner

Jack Kemp

Since we are celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812, here are some interesting little facts for you.

Before he penned the "Star Spangled Banner" to commemorate the defense of Ft. McHenry in the War of 1812,  Francis Scott Key wrote another song in 1805 also based on the same musical rhythm as a popular song "To Anacreon to Heaven." The earlier song is called "When a Warrior Returns" and it commemorated the American servicemen who returned from the Barbary Coast War against present day Morocco, Tunisia and Libya. It, Key first used the term "Star Spangled" which became famous in the National Anthem. It included this verse below. Yes, the reference to "Crescent" in the song is the Muslim crescent moon symbol.

From "When the Warrior Returns"
http://www.potw.org/archive/potw340.html

 In the conflict resistless, each toil they endured,
        'Till their foes fled dismayed from the war's desolation:
    And pale beamed the Crescent, its splendor obscured
        By the light of the Star Spangled flag of our nation.
    Where each radiant star gleamed a meteor of war,
    And the turbaned heads bowed to its terrible glare,
    Now, mixed with the olive, the laurel shall wave,
    And form a bright wreath for the brows of the brave.

END QUOTE

Reference: Pamphlet from the USS Wasp (LHD 1), now in New York Harbor for Fleet Week 2012