Today, America’s national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” is sung in unison by sports fans across the country each year. It’s often considered the nation’s most-famous composition. On each patriotic holiday, whether Independence Day, Presidents Day, or Veterans Day, the song is on the minds of countless citizens as they fire up the grill, take in a fireworks show, or enjoy an extra day of rest.
The song has become a lasting symbol of American values like bravery and freedom, but its origin story is murky due to writer Francis Scott Key’s elusive nature when he published the composition.
