Two hundred years ago, Francis Scott Key witnessed British soldiers firing on Fort McHenry as they tried to gain entry into Baltimore during the War of 1812.  American soldiers, however, remained fearless and defeated the British. To celebrate their victory they hoisted the U.S. flag and seeing those stripes and stars inspired Key to write “ The Star-Spangled Banner. ” Since then, the song has been immediately cherished by the country, proudly sung during the Civil War and as