Fort McHenry aerial view
Defenders’ Day — It’s Baltimore’s oldest holiday celebrated with military participation … imagine the giant 30 x 42-foot Star-Spangled Banner flag being raised over Fort McHenry as the wind catches it. The fifteen stars and fifteen stripes of the flag flying over the fort as it has every day since the night that the British bombarded the fort. It was during the war of 1812 that sixteen British ships approached Fort McHenry, and in the early morning of September 13, 1814, they began a 25-hour bombardment of the fort.
As dawn broke the British hopes of bombing the Americans into submission were dashed. Flying over the fort was the star-spangled banner – the valiant soldiers in the fort persisted and defended the city of Baltimore.
Fort McHenry Sally Port
Francis Scott Key was aboard one of the British ships and upon seeing the waving flag over the fort inspired him to write the four stanzas of what has become the United States of America’s National Anthem.
Defenders’ Day 2020 Goes Virtual
This year, 2020, because of health considerations, this historic site which is a national monument has been closed to the public. However, with the assistance of the Old Guard – the 3d Infantry Regiment and the US Army Field Band, a virtual celebration is presented.
Raising the Star-Spangled Banner on Defenders’ Day
Also, the park rangers of the National Park Service and Soldiers from the Old Guard raised the Star-Spangled Banner the 30′ by 42′ flag over Fort McHenry.
FLASHBACK – TWO HISTORIANS INVADE FORT McHENRY
A few years ago John Michael finally was able to visit Fort McHenry. Previous attempts were unsuccessful. However, early one Sunday morning, he along with William S Connery – “The History Guy” traveled from Alexandria to this outstanding fort. Bypassing the video wall in the visitors’ center, the two of them made a beeline to the fort and its interior. It was just in time to witness and participate in the raising of the Star-Spangled Banner. The feeling of holding a piece of history as it was raised up the flagpole was one that is totally unforgettable.
Bill Connery, like John Michael, is a published author of two books:
Northern Virginia 1861
AND
Mosby’s Raids in Civil War Northern Virginia
Both of which are available on Amazon