The amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) Sept. 5, honored the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Baltimore.
The fire hose salute was rendered to honor Fort McHenry’s namesake: the original fort that guarded Baltimore harbor in the War of 1812 and successfully fended off the invading British fleet on Sept. 14, 1814.
“Fort McHenry stands as a reminder of who we are as Americans – It is our legacy,” said Cmdr. Thomas Ulmer, Fort McHenry’s commanding officer. “When faced with tremendous adversity, following the example of those who came before us, we have and will continue to pull together as one team and one nation to face our challenges.”
When the battle concluded, a 15-star flag was raised over the fort. This iconic sight inspired Francis Key Scott to compose the poem that the United States knows today as the National Anthem.
While several Navy warships are scheduled to visit Baltimore’s harbor this year to partake in the bicentennial celebrations, Fort McHenry will not be one of them. The ship is busy conducting exercises with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in preparation for a deployment to the 5th and 6th fleet area of operations.
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