On September 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key penned a poem which
was later set to music and in 1931 became America’s national
anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The poem, originally titled “The Defence of Fort M’Henry,” was
written after Key witnessed the Maryland fort being bombarded
by the British during the War of 1812.

Key was inspired by the sight of a lone U.S. flag still flying over
Fort McHenry at daybreak, as reflected in the now-famous words
of the “Star-Spangled Banner”: “And the rocket’s red glare, the
bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag
was still there.”

Francis Scott Key (1779 – 1843)

The rock star scored early hits like "That’ll Be the Day" and
"Peggy Sue” before he was killed in rock ‘n’ roll’s most
famous plane crash at age 22.

Holly was among the first artists inducted into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame, in 1986. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him
number 13 in its list of 100 Greatest Artists in 2010.

Last photo of Buddy during concert at the Surf
Ballroom, Clear Lake, Iowa.  (February 2,  1959)

The group scored its first No. 1 single in 1969, with “I Want You
Back.” By age 11, Jackson was appearing on TV, and by age 14
he had released his first solo album.

The modern United States received its crowning star when
President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a proclamation
admitting Hawaii into the Union as the 50th state.

The president also issued an order for an American flag
featuring 50 stars arranged in staggered rows: five six-star
rows and four five-star rows. The new flag became official
July 4, 1960.

On August 19, 1964, more than six months after taking the East
Coast by storm, the Fab Four travel to California to take the
stage at the Cow Palace in San Francisco for opening night of
their first-ever concert tour of North America.