

A century later, it became our national anthem. It was renamed “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and it became a popular patriotic piece meant to commemorate American freedom and the bravery of those who fought to preserve it. Madison narrowly escaping.Īfter the British tired of the war and went home, Key’s poem was set to the tune of a drinking song, popular among British soldiers and sailors. Capitol and the White House were burned and severely damaged, with President and Mrs. Notwithstanding its origins, the War of 1812 brought Americans perilously close to being British subjects again. They thought this even though the Treaty of Paris, signed by the United States and Great Britain in 1783, unambiguously recognized the United States of America as a free, independent and sovereign nation. The Americans argued that the British government’s stated reason for its attack was a pretense, as its real goal was to recapture what many Britons still considered to be their colonies.

The British government claimed that President James Madison had designs on the British king’s lands in Canada, and so it attacked the U.S. This was the War of 1812, the origins of which are lost to history. So if you're looking for a great caption to go with your Memorial Day Instagram post, or just want to find the words to share with a veteran or service member who is remembering a lost brother or sister this year, here are just a few famous Memorial Day quotes that best embody what the day is truly all about.When Francis Scott Key wrote the words “the land of the free and the home of the brave” in 1814, he did so in a poem called “The Defense of Fort McHenry.” The battle of Fort McHenry in Baltimore was a decisive one in which Americans truly demonstrated bravery and fought for freedom. Kennedy, Barack Obama, Bob Dylan, and Maya Angelou.

These patriotic sayings have been uttered by some of the most influential American leaders and thinkers, including John F. Thankfully, there are more than a few Memorial Day quotes that come close. It can be difficult, if not impossible, to find the right words to honor those who lost their lives in the name of freedom. Memorial Day is about honoring the fallen soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country. As the days grow longer, the temperatures grow warmer, and you dust off your grill to put your best grilling tips to good use, it can be easy to forget that Memorial Day is about so much more than enjoying fruity summer cocktails or fun outdoor summer activities.
