One of the last public displays of the original Star Spangled Banner garrison flag that flew over Ft McHenry defending against the British Navy’s failed attempt to sack the City of Baltimore, Maryland in 1814 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star-Spangled_Banner_(flag) What the wiki fails to point out is the sea bombardment had actually commenced earlier in the evening. The fort typically flew a 3/4 sized “Storm Flag” one that was lighter and offered less resistance to wind and rain. After the fort survived basically intact from Britain’s initial fusillades *a British rocket had actually penetrated the fort’s gunpowder bunker but it failed to detonate* Major Armistead, the fort’s Commander, ordered the small storm flag down, and the full sized “Garrison Flag” raised, as if to send the British Navy a snub similar to “is that all you got?”... the fort survived more attacks all night without surrendering to the British, who eventually gave up, sailed out of Baltimore Harbor, down the Chesapeake Bay, around the Atlantic peninsula of Florida, where they met stiff resistance in their attempt to seal off the Gulf of Mexico US ports, and eventually retreated back to England... and America survived as an intact nation.
That decisive moment in history, the raising of the majestic garrison flag in the heat of battle, thrilled the residents in Baltimore, the surrounding shoreline factory workers and families, and in the following morning inspired the words of America’s National Anthem.
On this day of our Independence I wish peace to all that are torn by strife, both internal and external, and offer this reminder...
When all seems lost, insurmountable, overwhelming... shine forth with the best of all that you are, find that spark that seems invisible within you, fan it into a glorious flame, and Never. Give. Up!