Tonight, Eye On Annapolis had the rare opportunity to attend a special reception for the national anthem of the United States of America. The original manuscript of the Star Spangled Banner made it’s way to a private reception in the Miller Senate Office Building. A Dunbar Armored vehicle, a police escorted motorcade and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the NAC President and the Chairman and President of the MdHS will escort and transport the document to Annapolis this afternoon.
The reception was hosted by the National Anthem Celebration Foundation for the Maryland General Assembly, members of the Maryland Congressional delegation, the Mayors of Baltimore and Annapolis as well as former Maryland Governors and special guests. The highlight of the evening was the singing of all four verses of the Star Spangled Banner by the United States Naval Academy Glee Club.
On September 13, 1814, during the War of 1812, a war to affirm American independence, , a fleet of 50-British bomb ships launched a massive 25-hour sustained bombardment of Fort McHenry firing close to 1800 bombs and rockets at the star-shaped fort. It was on the morning of September 14th that Francis Scott Key, a Georgetown lawyer who had negotiated the release of a prisoner from the British – but was held aboard ship until after the attack- witnessed the assault and was inspired to write and describe the scene and his patriotic feeling about the flag and its defenders.
Please enjoy the photos of the evening by Joe Messenger. Additional photos can be viewed in his gallery. All photos ©2011, Joe Messenger, The Messenger Image.
