The Star-Spangled Banner

Hello. I am so big. I am made of soft cloth with bright, happy colors. I have long red stripes that look like ribbons in the sky. I have a deep blue square, like the night sky, right on my corner. And on that blue square, I have sparkly white stars that twinkle and shine. When the wind blows, I get to dance and play. Whoosh. I love to wave a big hello to everyone down below. I am a very special flag. My name is the Star-Spangled Banner.

I remember when I was made. It was a warm summer in 1813. A kind woman named Mary Pickersgill and her friends worked together to make me. With their needles and thread, they carefully stitched my red, white, and blue pieces together. They made me so big and so strong. I was made to fly high, high up on a flagpole over a special place called Fort McHenry. One night, it was very noisy. There was a big, loud storm with bright flashes of light in the sky. It was a little scary, but I held on tight to my pole all night long. I waved and waved, showing everyone I was still there and being brave.

The next morning, on September 14th, 1814, the sun came out. A man in a boat looked up and saw me. I was still waving. He was so happy to see me. His name was Francis Scott Key, and he wrote a beautiful poem about my brave night. That poem became a happy song that people still sing today when they see flags that look just like me. My song reminds everyone to be brave and full of hope. When people sing it together, it feels like a big hug that brings friends together all across the land.