In the War of 1812 the star-shaped Fort McHenry defended Baltimore Harbor from a British attack. In preperation before the attack they had a huge American Flag made. Francis Scott Key was on a ship in the harbor during the British attack. When he awoke at dawn he saw that the huge flag was still flying unscaved above the fort. It inspired him to write a poem which would become The Star Spangled Banner. Since every newly designed American Flag flies over the fort first.