"Dawn's Early Light"

September 14th Ryan and I went to Fort McHenry to celebrate the moment that the National Anthem was written.  Two hundred years ago, at 7:00 a.m., the British bombardment ended and at 9:00 a.m. was when the flag was risen over the ramparts.  The sight of this flag is what inspired Francis Scott Key to write our National Anthem.  This historical reenactment illustrated, to the exact minute, what happened that morning.  Here is just a brief view of this beautiful service...

The Maryland Defense Force Band played for the ceremony...

And the military (from each branch) gathered including those from the United Kingdom and Canada. Also represented were soldiers from days past...

  

The Flags were then presented and we sang the song celebrated...

The Star Spangled Banner was then raised.  This was the replica of the orignal (size and make) flag that President Madison ordered to be raised.  President Madison wanted a flag big enough for the British to see out in the Bay.

This is just a glimpse of the size difference between a regulation size flag and the flag that was raised on September 14, 1814...

 Former Secretary of State, Colin Powell, presented a Keynote Address

And following our Governor, Martin O'Malley, lead us all in the singing of the four verses of the "Star Spangled Banner".  Ryan and I both sang with all of our hearts and love for our country.

Following the ceremony we saw several ships in the Bay that had come to celebrate this 200 -year Anniversary.

We walked back towards the Fort and enjoyed listening to the band, spending time walking around where this history took place and watching the "bombs bursting in air".

This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and we were so happy that we were able to attend.