I solemnly gazed out into the night yet again from the ship I was detained on until morning. The battle raged as I watched helplessly while the sky lit up from the rockets being shot back and forth. Slowly the night crawled on as I paced along the side of the “Surprise,” hoping that the billowing smoke would fade soon. It has just been over a day I had been trapped alongside my negotiation party at Fort McHenry, and dawn was surely to be approaching soon.
Then, just as the thought occurred, the first signs of dawn breaking emerged. I excitedly peered again through the smoke as it began to slowly clear across the Chesapeake Bay. I stared out into the distance looking for any sign of who had just won the battle. That’s when I saw it-an enormous flag flying proudly in the distance. It gleamed across the morning’s first rays. It was the American flag, our flag. It stood tall through the entire bombing and yet survived the perilous fight. Pride swelled through me. Deeply inspired, I hastily grabbed a letter and turned it over. Feverishly I became to write as I heard the faint, triumphant cries and cheers from the Baltimore shore.
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| Original written copy of the Star-Spangled Banner from Francis Scott Key. |
Francis Scott Key, I can relate you in many ways. You are from a time when your country was at war with another, just as I am. Though I came from the 1260’s through 1290’s era, which is many centuries before yours. You tell a great story of a battle to defend what is rightfully yours, just as my father did here in Japan. Though I may not know of the evil man who tried to take over, I do know of Kublai Khan the one who tried to rule over all of Asia. Japan would be under the name of the Mongols if it wasn’t for the Kamikaze who saved our sacred land. I like how the will of man saved your country, just like how the will of nature saved ours. Good job you Americans:)
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