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National Anthem Draft Leaves Md. Home For First Time

BALTIMORE (WJZ/AP) -- The original manuscript of "The Star-Spangled Banner" written by Francis Scott Key left Baltimore for the first time in nearly 200 years for an event in Annapolis.

Kai Jackson explains why the important document was moved.

The document was moved from its home at the Maryland Historical Society on Tuesday in an armored car. It was placed on view during a private two-hour reception hosted by the National Anthem Celebration Foundation for the Maryland General Assembly.

The group was celebrating the 200th anniversary of the writing of the anthem in 2014. It was written during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814.

"It's all about the children learning the history of our country so we can pass it on to others," said National Anthem historian Dan Esmond.

On Wednesday, the handwritten document will be lent to the National Park Service for public viewing at Fort McHenry for three months.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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