200 years ago, the national anthem of the USA was written. The anthem was written by an American lawyer, Francis Scott Key, who had been visiting British General Robert Ross of Rostrevor on his ship HMS Tonnant in a bid to secure the release of US prisoners of war. Major General Ross was commander of the British forces who were bombarding Fort McHenry as part of the Battle of Baltimore. Inspired by the American victory at the battle, Keys penned the lyrics to the now famous poem which became the US national anthem.
The monument in Rostrevor to Major General Ross is sited on land where he was to have built a family home upon returning from America. Sadly, he didn't make it home alive.
Wikepedia article on Major Ross http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Ros ... my_officer)
To celebrate the link between Rostrevor the penning of the anthem, a replica of the original flag was carried by local school children to the Ross Monument as part of a Star Spangled Banner festival which is taking part in the Irish village all week.
Clip taken using a P2V hence the wobbly footage!
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEpcPazPVsM[/youtube]
The monument in Rostrevor to Major General Ross is sited on land where he was to have built a family home upon returning from America. Sadly, he didn't make it home alive.
Wikepedia article on Major Ross http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Ros ... my_officer)
To celebrate the link between Rostrevor the penning of the anthem, a replica of the original flag was carried by local school children to the Ross Monument as part of a Star Spangled Banner festival which is taking part in the Irish village all week.
Clip taken using a P2V hence the wobbly footage!
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEpcPazPVsM[/youtube]