<P> In his autobiography , Marching Along , Sousa wrote that he composed the march on Christmas Day , 1896 . He was on an ocean liner on his way home from a vacation with his wife in Europe and had just learned of the recent death of David Blakely , the manager of the Sousa Band . He composed the march in his head and committed the notes to paper on arrival in the United States . It was first performed at Willow Grove Park , just outside Philadelphia , on May 14 , 1897 , and was immediately greeted with enthusiasm . Following an Act of Congress in 1987 , it was officially adopted as the national march of the United States of America . </P>
<P> In his autobiography , Marching Along , Sousa wrote that he composed the march on Christmas Day , 1896 . He was on an ocean liner on his way home from a vacation with his wife in Europe and had just learned of the recent death of David Blakely , the manager of the Sousa Band . He composed the march in his head and committed the notes to paper on arrival in the United States . It was first performed at Willow Grove Park , just outside Philadelphia , on May 14 , 1897 , and was immediately greeted with enthusiasm . Following an Act of Congress in 1987 , it was officially adopted as the national march of the United States of America . </P>
when did john philip sousa write the stars and stripes forever
when did john philip sousa write the stars and stripes forever
Christmas Day , 1896
Christmas Day , 1896