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The Star Spangled Banner, was written on the morning of September 14, 1812, by Francis Scott Key, a lawyer from Georgetown, after witnessing the Battle of Fort McHenry in Baltimore. The first verse of the poem, which is now the American National Anthem, described what Scott saw from the America truce ship he stayed on in Baltimore harbour during the battle.

O say can you see, by the dawns early light

What so proudly we hail’d, at the twighlight’s last gleaming

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight

O’er the ramparts we watch’d, were so gallantly streaming 

And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air

Gave proof  through the night that our flag was still there

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave

 

The song with words used today would be:

Can you see, by the morning’s light

What so proudly we respected last night

Who’s wide stripes and bright stars,during the violent battle

Over the fortress walls we watched, were bravely waving

And the rockets red flashes, the bombs explosions in the sky

Showed us that our flag was still there

Does that American flag still fly

Above the United States

 

       These were the sights that Francis Scott Key saw when the battle ended.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1812, flintlock muskets were still the main weapon for front line troops in the West. During the Second War between Britain and the United States, muskets were used extensively on both sides. The American regulars used the famed 69. caliber Springfield musket.  Militia troops used various musket models, some outdated. The British used the Brown Bess musket. It was made in several variations, differing in size.  An early rifle was used by the British, the 62. caliber Baker Rifle. It was given to elite rifleman, who were skilled shots.  Flintlock muskets remained the main arm used by many armies until the 1850’s, when percussion ignited rifles replaced them.

By Christopher DellaCamera

 

Symbols are made to represent a common cause that people are part of, such as a union, team, force, or religion. The symbols are created to show membership or connection with the others in that group, such as an emblem for a team, which all of the players wear on their uniforms. We need symbols to feel acceptance or connection with something. Most people in America own a flag that represents their country. This is to show represent the country, and to honor it.  The American flag for example is a symbol of one of the most powerful  countries in the world. To different people, it symbolizes different things. Most symbols represent something different to different people, who may think of some thing different when they see it.

Music I like to listen to is Van Halen. Van Halen’s sixth album, 1984, was the first CD I listened to at the age of seven. I now enjoy to listen to albums from the groups whole career. The blend of Eddie Van Halen’s fast paced guitar solos and his brother Alex’s heavy drum beats
intrests me. I am interested in the possibility of the new album being made by the group with original vocalist David Lee Roth.

A passion I have for 2010 is to get A’s in my all my classes. My lowest grade in a B-, which is not exceptable to me. I believe I need to work on studying more for the classes, such as Math which I do not perform as well in. I hope to stay on the honor roll for the rest of the year by achieving this. Also, this will help me in High School, were the grades will count more so than in the previous years. I hope I can accomplish this.

The perfect class room would have desks. It would also have books and pencils. There would be a teacher and students. There would be a chalk board and windows. There would be a television and a computer. There would also be a door and windows. There would be books, and other texts to learn and study with.