[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 16, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S5636]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  SENATE RESOLUTION 550--COMMEMORATING THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF ``THE 
                         STAR-SPANGLED BANNER''

  Mr. CARDIN (for himself and Ms. Mikulski) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 550

       Whereas during the War of 1812, Great Britain turned its 
     full attention to the war effort in North America following 
     its defeat of Napoleon's armies on the European continent in 
     April 1814;
       Whereas British forces dealt a devastating blow to the 
     forces of the United States at the Battle of Bladensburg and 
     were, as a consequence, able to march into Washington, D.C. 
     unopposed and, on August 24, 1814, burn the United States 
     Capitol Building, the Executive Mansion, now known as the 
     White House, and other government buildings;
       Whereas on September 13, 1814, with the fate of the Nation 
     uncertain, Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, withstood 25 
     hours of bombardment by the British Royal Navy;
       Whereas on the following morning, the soldiers of Fort 
     McHenry hoisted an enormous American flag, the sight of which 
     inspired Francis Scott Key to write a poem he titled ``The 
     Star-Spangled Banner'';
       Whereas on December 24, 1814, American and British 
     commissioners signed the Treaty of Ghent, which would be 
     ratified the following February, bringing the War of 1812 to 
     an end and firmly establishing the United States of America 
     as a sovereign nation within the family of nations;
       Whereas on March 3, 1931, President Herbert Hoover signed 
     Public Law 71-823, designating ``The Star-Spangled Banner'' 
     as the national anthem of the United States;
       Whereas ``The Star-Spangled Banner'' was written to 
     celebrate American courage at a time when the torch of 
     liberty looked as if it were about to be extinguished;
       Whereas singing the national anthem at large public 
     gatherings, such as sporting events, brings patriotic unity 
     to the great melting pot known as the United States of 
     America;
       Whereas our national anthem has become an enduring symbol 
     of ``the land of the free and the home of the brave'';
       Whereas the people of the United States are celebrating the 
     bicentennial of ``The Star-Spangled Banner'' with a variety 
     of commemorative events nationwide during the week of 
     September 10 through 16, 2014, including the ``O Say Can You 
     See! Star-Spangled Spectacular'' festival in Baltimore on 
     September 13, 2014, which included concerts and an 
     extraordinary fireworks display over Fort McHenry and the 
     Baltimore harbor; and
       Whereas it is especially important to educate young people 
     and new citizens of the United States about the history and 
     meaning of the national anthem: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) the Senate designates the period from September 2014 
     through September 2015 as the ``Year of National Thanksgiving 
     for `The Star-Spangled Banner' '';
       (2) the Senate encourages all State and local governments 
     and the people of the United States to observe this period of 
     thanksgiving with appropriate ceremonies, activities, 
     educational outreach, and reflection; and
       (3) it is the sense of the Senate that ``The Star-Spangled 
     Banner'' shall retain all current verses and remain our 
     national anthem in perpetuity.

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