[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 63 (Thursday, May 19, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
MARYLAND STATE SOCIETY UNITED STATES DAUGHTERS OF 1812 HONORED FOR WORK 
                            AT FORT McHENRY

                                 ______


                       HON. HELEN DELICH BENTLEY

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 19, 1994

  Mrs. BENTLEY. Mr. Speaker, my fellow colleagues, I rise today to 
recognize the efforts of the Maryland Society United States Daughters 
of 1812. When Americans think of the many historic landmarks 
celebrating our Nation's military triumphs and defeats, they often 
picture places like the battlefields of Gettysburg, the U.S.S. Arizona 
Memorial at Pearl Harbor, and the Alamo. While these monuments are 
respectable in their own right, often they overshadow the 
accomplishments of another significant memorial, Fort McHenry, the 
birthplace of the Star Spangled Banner.
  Nearly 180 years ago, Fort McHenry fell under a British Naval attack 
led by Vice Adm. Alexander Cochrane. The bombardment would last for 25 
hours, in which 1,500 to 1,800 shells and rockets were fired. On 
September 14 at 7 a.m., the British invaders sailed away in defeat as 
the American soldiers fired the morning gun in victory and hoisted the 
large flag made by Mary Young Pickersill. It was this grandiose flag, 
the red, white and blue colors shimmering in glory in the wind with its 
15 stars and stripes that inspired Francis Scott Key to write ``The 
Star Spangled Banner'', our national anthem.
  Throughout the years, the society has supported Fort McHenry with 
monetary donations, raised funds to plant trees, donated children's 
books for the library and supported the Fort McHenry Educational 
Program. Its efforts have contributed to the preservation of this 
historical site, as well as educating future generations about the 
fierce bombing the fort endured in the fight for our country's 
independence and the repulsion of the British naval attack that 
prevented the capture of Baltimore.
  In 1925, Congress made Fort McHenry a national park. Fourteen years 
later, it was redesignated a national monument and historic shrine, the 
only park in the country to have this double distinction. Mr. Speaker, 
my fellow colleagues, I am proud to commend the Maryland State Society 
United States Daughters of 1812. Their constant attention to the 
preservation of this beautiful site rightly glorifies the courageous 
men who fought and died there and reminds us of this hard fought battle 
for freedom and liberty.

                          ____________________