Fort McHenry

I began an adventure today with a group of 29 fellow history enthusiasts. We gathered at the airport in the early morning and flew into Baltimore. I marvelled at the site of Chesapeake Bay with the sailboats streaming like small specks in the water from the window of our listing plane. Amazing as it might seem, 30 educators arrived on time to gather their luggage, stow it on the bus and head for Fort McHenry. A month ago I could not even have told you what Fort McHenry stood for or that it represented a new nation battling for its freedom. Now, I have seen what Francis Scott Key saw in the dawn's early light. A majestic flag flying over an unassuming fort built into the earth on Chesapeake Bay. I heard the cannon roar and the muskets fire as the reenactment unfolded for the visitors. Tonight I will digest the sites, the information, and the meaning of this site to America. Tomorrow, I am prepared to be astonished by Colonial Williamsburg.