Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Commemorates 1814 Defenders and 9/11 Fallen Heroes

Date: September 9, 2014
Contact: Fort McHenry Press, 410-962-4290 ext. 886

Ceremony and Special Ranger Programs on September 11

BALTIMORE –On September 11, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine will honor Baltimore's city defenders from 1814 and those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 with special commemoration programs and will have the National 9/11 Flag on display. Ranger-led programs will trace the development of the American flag from the War of 1812 to the present day as a national icon.

At 11:00 a.m., the Baltimore City Firefighters Honor Guard, the Fort McHenry Guard, and living historians will process from the Visitor Center to the historic Star Fort for the 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony. The commemoration will include music, remarks from Fort McHenry Ranger James Bailey;Jeff Parness, Founder and Chairman of the "New York Says Thank You" Foundation;and Baltimore Mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. Following the remarks, the names of those Baltimore residents killed on 9/11 and during the 1814 defense of Fort McHenry will be read aloud, followed by a wreath laying and a moment of silence, and concluding with the sounding of Taps.

From 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The National 9/11 Flag, on loan from the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, will be on display behind the Fort McHenry Visitor Center and guarded by the Baltimore City Firefighters Honor Guard. Salvaged from the ruins of the World Trade Center in the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 and stitched back together by American citizens, this flag is regarded as the modern "Star-Spangled Banner," and has become a testament of American resilience. Stitched into the flag on June 14, 2012 were threads from the original garrison flag that waved over Fort McHenry the morning of September 14, 1814 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star-Spangled Banner poem that became the National Anthem.

The firing of the "alarm gun" will occur at 3:00 p.m. from the water battery, marking 200 years since cannon fire from Fort McHenry and Federal Hill warned Baltimore residents of the impending approach of the British army and navy. Ranger talks at the Star Fort will begin at 9:15 a.m., 5:15 p.m., 6:15 p.m., and 7:15 p.m. Visitors will hear the story of how the Star-Spangled Banner inspired Francis Scott Key, as well as the survivors of 9/11, as they are invited to help unroll the full 30-by-42 foot replica of the 1814 Star-Spangled Banner flag.

About Fort McHenry National Monument &Historic Shrine
During the Battle of Baltimore, September 13 –14, 1814, the valiant defense of the star-shaped Fort McHenry against the might of the British navy inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner."The 15 broad stripes and 15 bright stars still fly over the fort 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The fort was used continuously in a variety of ways through World War II. Most famous as the birthplace of our National Anthem, many special activities are planned at Fort McHenry National Monument &Historic Shrine in 2014 to commemorate the Bicentennial of the War of 1812, the United States' second war for independence.www.nps.gov/fomcPhone: [phone]Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FtMcHenryNPS and on Twitter, @FtMcHenryNPS.