Star Spangled Banner is Born

On this day, September 13, 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote a poem titled, The Defense of Ft. McHenry. The poem became immediately popular. Key was on a British warship to negotiate the release of his friend, Dr. William Beanes who was being held captive by the British. Even though the negotiation was successful, they were not allowed to leave until the bombardment of Ft. McHenry was finished.

Key, watching the bombardment throughout the nights was overjoyed to see the flag still flying over the fort in the first morning light and quickly wrote words to express his emotions.

The poem was eventually set to the tune of a popular English drinking song, The Anacreon in Heaven. Soon people were referring to the song as the Star Spangled Banner and in 1916, Woodrow Wilson ordered the song to be played at all official functions. It was officially adopted as our national anthem on March 3, 1931.

Key was born August 1,1879 and died on January 11, 1843.

Yesterday, I spent all afternoon getting our appeal ready to send to the Arkansas Court of Appeals in Little Rock. As many of your know we had filed a $50,000 lawsuit against The Rhino Times in Greensboro, North Carolina for slanderous statements made on the internet. Laws dealing with the internet are still not solid in their interpretation. The court in Arkansas ruled that it did not have proper jurisdiction because The Rhino Times does not own property, bank or have an office in Arkansas and it is unlikely that they will. However, it is our argument that they have stated their intention is to inform and entertain their thousands of readers world wide.
Intentions and worldwide would certainly include Arkansas.

Jason Robb has appealed the lower court decision. Preparing an appeal is a very tedious and drawn out affair. There are often lawyers who actually specialize in appeals and do nothing else.

The reason: it has to be prepared perfectly, or the court will not even look at it.

The last day to have this appeal filed is on Monday, the 17th. I spent the afternoon, making copies and then binding them. Yes, they must be bound according to an exact procedure. There had to be 21 copies prepared. Eighteen go to the court in Little Rock and the others are sent to Rhino’s attorney in North Carolina, Rhino’s attorney in Arkansas as well as the judge in the lower court. I finally got it is the mail 15 minutes before the Post Office closed. The court should have it today.

Now an agent of the court will look at it and if there is anything that is not exactly right, they will notify Jason and then we will have to make the corrections and probably drive to Little Rock on Monday to deliver it.

But it should be ok. It has been reviewed by a agent of the court already and it appears it is acceptable for the judges to review.

Of course, all of this came about as a result of the lawsuit The Rhino Times first filed against us last September.

For more information of this click of The Rhino Times label at the bottom.

Don’t forget the White Christian Heritage Festival on October 20 in Pulaski, Tennessee.

Also we have a fellowship gathering at the Christian Revival Center on December 1 and 2. All our friends and supporters are welcome. Contact us and let me know if you are going to attend.

God bless!