VACATIONS MADE EASY : DESTINATIONS : BALTIMORE, MD : EVENT CALENDAR

Defenders Day at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, MD

Defenders Day at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, MD Fort McHenry is historical monument and is best known for its role in war of 1812, wherein it defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy. During this bombardment, Francis Scott Key was inspired to write a poem, ???The Star-Spangled Banner, which later became the national anthem of United States. The fort was made a national park in 1925, and National Monument and Historic Shrine in 1939. The first 49 and 50 star American flags were flown over the fort and are still located there. The fort has become a tourist centre for thousands of visitors, every year. Every September, the city of Baltimore commemorates Defenders Day in honor of the Battle of Baltimore. It is the biggest annual celebration at the fort, along with the weekend of programs, parades, military bands and fireworks. A grand ceremony includes a symbolic ship-to-shore bombardment. The event in 1914 featured 6500 local school children dressed in red, white and blue forming a giant replica of the flag. As the children took their places, they waved handkerchiefs of matching color to give this ???Human Flag??? a rippling effect.