A Tornado Saved America

To Americans, all tornadoes are curses. Except one. Let me call it the Twister of 1814.

1814 was the year of a war that gave birth to "The Star-Spangled Banner," our national anthem.

"Through the perilous fight..."

On August 24th, 1814, British troops overran the U.S. Capital. In a celebratory mood, they made "fireworks" out of a city-wide blaze, highlighted by the burning of the White House.

The British "fireworks" went on unabated the next day, August 25th. Then came a freakish rainy tornado which put out the fire and let the American defenders snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

Happy New Year to the USA!


Author: renqiulan