To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the penning of the national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key, Hearst’s NBC affiliate in Baltimore, WBAL, is “knee deep in everything red, white and blue” says Creative Services Director John Baldwin. “WBAL is producing several broadcast specials commemorating the Star Spangled Banner’s 200th anniversary. Our […]
To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the penning of the national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key, Hearst’s NBC affiliate in Baltimore, WBAL, is “knee deep in everything red, white and blue” says Creative Services Director John Baldwin.
“WBAL is producing several broadcast specials commemorating the Star Spangled Banner’s 200th anniversary. Our video posts on social media have received very positive commenting. Even a couple “goose bumps” reactions from our Facebook fans, which is exactly what we were shooting for,” he says.
“Mixing our on-air news talent in with so many familiar, popular faces in the Baltimore area makes the spots a win-win,” Baldwin says.
“And the final shot featuring veteran anchor Stan Stoval and a group of Midshipmen at Annapolis Naval Academy, is a strong conclusion to the spot. WBAL’s Cory McRae did a great job editing this collection of lyrics together. It’s been about 2 or 3 months in the making, for sure.”
A quick history lesson about the writing of the Star Spangled Banner during the War of 1812.
On Sept. 3, 1814, following the burning of Washington, Francis Scott Key set sail from Baltimore on a mission approved by President James Madison. The objective was to secure the exchange of prisoners from the British. At first, the British refused to release the prisoners, but relented when Key showed them letters written by wounded British prisoners praising the Americans for their kind treatment.
But because Key had heard details of the plans for an attack on Baltimore, he was held captive onboard a British ship until after the battle.
During the rainy night, Key watched the bombardment of Fort McHenry, but he would not know how the battle had turned out until dawn. Then he saw that the 15-star, 15-stripe American flag had been raised.
Aboard the ship the next day, Key wrote the poem, The Star Spangled Banner Flag, on the back of a letter he had in his pocket.
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