National Anthem Day is on Wednesday, March 3, 2027, and it falls on March 3 every year. It marks the day in 1931 when President Herbert Hoover signed the law making “The Star-Spangled Banner” the official U.S. national anthem. Before that, the country had no official anthem at all.
When Is National Anthem Day?
It’s always March 3, the anniversary of the 1931 law. It’s a day of remembrance, not one of the 11 federal holidays, so schools, banks and offices stay open.
How Did “The Star-Spangled Banner” Become Official?
Maryland Representative John Linthicum introduced the bill in 1929. The House passed it on April 21, 1930, and the Senate followed on March 3, 1931. Hoover signed it the same day, according to the National Archives’ Hoover Library.
Supporters sent Congress a petition with more than five million signatures. Letters came from 150 organizations and 25 governors.
The choice had critics. Some disliked the warlike lyrics or found the song hard to sing. Others objected that the tune came from an English drinking song, during Prohibition.
Francis Scott Key and Fort McHenry
Francis Scott Key, a lawyer and amateur poet, wrote the words in September 1814. He was inspired by the American flag still flying over Fort McHenry in Baltimore after a British bombardment.
The verses were first printed as “Defence of Fort McHenry,” probably on September 17, 1814. Key meant them to be sung to “To Anacreon in Heaven,” a popular English tune.
Why Remember the Anthem’s Official Day?
The anthem is played at ballgames, graduations and ceremonies across the country, but few people know it was only made official in 1931. The day highlights that history and the song’s roots in the War of 1812.
The flag that inspired it is at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Baltimore flagmaker Mary Pickersgill sewed it. It first measured 30 by 42 feet, but pieces were cut off as souvenirs, so it’s now 30 by 34 feet.
How to Celebrate National Anthem Day
- Read all four verses: most people only know the first; the others describe the morning after the battle.
- Visit Fort McHenry: stand where the flag flew in 1814, at the national monument in Baltimore.
- See the original flag: plan a stop at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
- Practice the high note: sing along with a recording and see whether you can reach “land of the free.”
- Teach the etiquette: show kids how to stand, face the flag and place a hand over the heart.
National Anthem Etiquette
Federal law lays out what to do. Civilians should face the flag, stand at attention and place their right hand over their heart. Men not in uniform should remove their hats with their right hand.
People in uniform give the military salute from the first note to the last. Veterans and service members out of uniform may salute too. If no flag is shown, face toward the music.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the anthem used before it became official?
Yes. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson named it the anthem of the Armed Forces. In 1918, a Navy band played it during Game 1 of the World Series, and the crowd joined in.
What tune is the anthem set to?
“To Anacreon in Heaven,” a popular English song of the time. Key wrote his words to fit it.
Where is the original Star-Spangled Banner flag?
At the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., where it’s on display.
Sources
- National Archives – Hoover Library: Herbert Hoover and “The Star Spangled Banner”
- Smithsonian National Museum of American History – The Lyrics
- Smithsonian National Museum of American History – Star-Spangled Banner FAQs
- Cornell Law School LII – 36 U.S. Code § 301, National anthem
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management – Federal Holidays