Here’s some interesting news from our friends at The National Flag Foudation.
The Smithsonian Institution, with support from the White House and funding from the Pew Charitable Trust and other sources, is undertaking an ambitious effort to restore the Star-Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to pen what became our country’s national anthem.
The 30-foot b 42-foot Garrison Flag flew over Baltimore’s Ft. McHenry during the unsuccessful British bombardment of the fort on September 13-14, 1814. Key, a Washington D.C. attorney, witnessed the bombardment aboard a flag-of-truce ship, and was moved to pen the first stanza of his poem that, set to the English melody "Anacreon in Heaven", officially became America’s national anthem in 1931.
The historically priceless flag has been in the possession of the Smithsonian since 1912, when it was donated by the grandson of the fort’s commander. It was repaired in 1914 and then displayed, folded, in an inadequate case in the Arts and Industries Building before being moved to the National Museum of American History in 1963.
The flag was most recently cleaned in 1982 at which time a protective screen was installed to further protect it from the deleterious effects of dust and light. Cables holding the screen failed in 1994, increasing the urgency of the Smithsonian’s efforts. The restoration process is expected to take approximately three years.The U.S. Flag, adopted on June 14, 1777, is the fourth oldest national flag in the world. Denmark’s flag, adopted in 1219, is the oldest.