Most people hear the star spangled banner

almost every week of their lives whether it be a sports event, the arrival of the president

the star spangled banner permeates our daily lives.

The flag program we provide at fort McHenry for several years now seems to be the most popular program.

We bring out a replica of the original star-spangled banner.

Visitors participate, they can actually touch a replica of the original flag.

and that means a lot when you are telling the story of the star-spangled banner. The inspiration

for a new national song to be composed and written by a young lawyer named Frances Scott Key.

Its a very compelling story to tell to the American Visitor.

The Flag is the one thing in this country that remains constant, something that the people can go back to whenever they need a patriotic boost.

You might call it the star-spangled banner is the fabric of our lives.

And one thing that I enjoy is telling that story and getting a response from the visitor...having them leave here and say "Wow that was cool."

My name is Scott Sheads, I am a park ranger and historian at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine.

I have been here for over 30 years

to tell that one important story...the story of how the star spangled banner came to be written.

::Fifes and Drums Play the National Anthem::