A Field Trip to Fort McHenry

I love visiting historical sites and I must admit, growing up in the Baltimore area, I am a bit biased toward Fort McHenry. I love how it was one of the first big defeats of a world superpower by a little upstart country called the United States of America. Despite some of things that are going on today, which we may or may not agree on, American history is a fascinating story about the struggle for freedom and democracy in a world that had really never heard of such things before. This country may have done (and still does) some things wrong, but it has also done a whole heck-uv-a lot of things right, too.

The short video above is of a replica of the flag known as The Star Bangled Banner. It is 41 feet long and flew over the fort as the British retreated from the battle at Fort McHenry near the end of the War of 1812. We actually helped to raise it in a ceremony they do at the fort every day. First, the park ranger, with the help of the visitors, lowers the Storm Flag replica (it is only only 17 feet by 24 feet) which flew during the actual 25-hour long British bombardment of the fort.

Then, with further help from the visitors, he raises this bigger flag.

I wish I had more time to add pictures, but here's a few: the whole crew in front of the fort; Tyler with a big cannon, and some of the fort itself.