This loyal Mr. B----, when he received favorable news from the
Northern army, or whenever his patriotism had need of bubbling
over, regularly made a pilgrimage to Key's grave, and there,
standing at the head of it, exultantly and conscientiously sang
through the whole of Key's song.

On every Decoration Day the grave is covered with flowers, and
the flag which always waves there--the Star-Spangled Banner which
his strained eyes saw on that 14th of September, 1814, rise triumphant
above the smoke and vapor of battle--is reverently renewed.

Perhaps, after all, it is his best monument.

The flag of 1814 and that of 1894 are nearly identical, the
greatest change being merely in smaller stars in the cluster.
The flag of the United States, adopted June 14, 1777, was one of
thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, with a union of
thirteen white stars in a blue field. Upon the admission of
Kentucky and Vermont, two stripes and two stars were added. This
flag continued in use until 1818, when, five more States having
been admitted, the bars were reduced to the original thirteen,
with an added star for every new State, the star to be placed in
position on the Fourth of July following the admission.