Baltimore/Washington A Nearly Perfect Weekend About This Page:

[mommapants]

The Flag raising and a history lesson…
How many states were there during the war of 1812? Answer in next post – no cheating - take a guess?

There is a short walk from the visitor’s center out to the fort, a very easy stroll of maybe 5 minutes. Evan was totally absorbed watching the boats on the harbor and the factories across the way. We arrive into the main center of the fort and the school group is there and a few others. I figured some sort of Honor Guard would come out to lower and raise the flag so we just mill around, waiting.

Pretty soon the park rangers come out and begin the process and guess what? We all get to partake in it. The ranger tells us that the lowering and raising of the flag is the oldest tradition in the fort and since there are no longer soldiers stationed there they need the visitors to help in the process.

The flag that flew over FortMcHenry during the battle was huge, 30 feet high and 42 feet long and weighed over 200 pounds. A flag that size takes a lot of work to raise up (remember the flag must not hit the ground). So FortMcHenry only will fly that replica flag during the day when the park is open. At night they fly a much smaller one. Hence the need for this “flag exchange”. BTW the actual flag that flew over FortMcHenry can be scene in WashingtonDC – Smithsonian – AmericanHistoryMuseum.

So they continue with the history lesson and start to hand out the flag. It is all rolled up like a scroll and folded inside a bag. We have to make 2 rows of people and we begin to pass the “scroll” down the line. Once the flag is all out of the bag but still all rolled up in this scroll (remember it is 42 feet long) the ranger gives the word and everyone unrolls the scroll, opening up Old Glory in all her glory. I’m getting goosebumps remembering this.

Everyone fills into the open areas on the ends. Mom, Evan and Megan were at the end with the stripes while Beth and I went around and were opposite them holding the blue field. We are all holding the flag tightly and I felt like the people you see at the Olympics when then come out holding the flag. The ranger gives us a little more history.

He talks about the size of the flags stripes – “They are what?”…“Broad!” Each stripe is 2 feet wide making the flag 30 feet - wait a moment a quick math lesson would mean that there are 15 stripes, not 13?

That is correct. The flag at this time in our nation’s history had 15 stripes. 13 refers to…not the 13 original colonies as so often thought. As the ranger said “What happened on July 4, 1776?” ...We declared our independence and just a few years later won our freedom and created the United States. 13 stars and 13 stripes, one for each –STATE.

Then Kentucky and Tennessee joined The Union and they each wanted a star and a stripe as well – which they got. So my trivia question was there were 15 states at the time of the War of 1812.

After the war congress later thought about what if we keep adding states? The stripes would end up getting smaller and smaller or the flags bigger and bigger so they went back to 13 stripes (because of the original 13 STATES) and just added a star for each new state.

This was the only time in our history the flag had 15 stripes.

Next he talked about the stars. “The Stars are what?” – say it with me…“BRIGHT” Each star is 2 feet wide, with lots of blue around each star so they really jumped out at you, they were indeed bright. There are 5 rows with 3 stars in each row. But there was something different about them.

When you look at a flag today all the Stars are in the same orientation, pointing up.



Not so in 1814. At this point in time, row one’s stars tilted to one side then row two’s tilted to the other side and so on down the line.


Anyone know what the word is to describe this sort of layout……

Wait for it…




Wait for it….





Spangled! (I never knew that) I always thought spangled was another word for fancy or sparkling or bright

So when Francis Scott Key wrote his poem about the flag. It wasn’t just any American flag. It was THIS American flag. The one with the broad 2 foot stripes and the bright 2 foot stars in a spangled pattern in a beautiful field of blue; a flag that was raised up over the ramparts of tFort McHenry in the dawn’s early light on September 14, 1814.

OK more info then you ever thought you’d find out about the American flag. History lesson over.

It really was so very interesting. We view so many things with a here and now attitude and forget that our country was still very young at this time and still finding its way – including its flag.

After the speech we moved the flag in unison into position to be raised up. As they were securing the ropes and lowering the night time flag, we were all still holding the Stars and Stripes and the kids, you know the class trip kids, started to do popcorn with it. GRRR!

For those of you who don’t know what popcorn is – it is from gym class in elementary school when we would hold up a parachute and shake it so it made ripples and the teacher would throw a bunch of balls in it and they would bounce all over the place, like popcorn popping in a pot (remember the old fashioned way to make popcorn). Anyway I don’t know the official word for it but that is what these kids were doing. It really pissed me off.


Here we are in a place of great sacrifice and honor a place that inspired our National Anthem with the flag that inspired it and these kids are acting like
A-holes.

Again no one said anything and I finally looked directly at the kids next to me and said in my best Mommy Voice (with dissappoving look) “knock it off! This is the Flag, show some respect” Fortunately they stopped but again couldn’t believe they had to be told.

Once the ropes were all secured and final instructions were given the rangers gave the word and raised the flag. It was breathtaking. To see this giant flag unfurl in the breeze. The sky was sunny and blue and it was just amazing. A once in a life time event. I have chills thinking about it. I have video of it but I recorded it on my camcorder which uses the little discs so I don’t think I can download it to Photobucket.






I would HIGHLY recommend this if you ever get to FortMcHenry. I’m sure they do similar things at other forts but just something about it being the actual place and the actual flag that inspired our nation anthem was incredible.

OK I’ll try to step down – I hope I’m not being too preaching.

I will put in a shameless plug however for the park rangers. They all love their jobs and are so wonderful. We used a ranger for a private tour of Gettysburg years ago and it was fabulous. Be sure to take the time to talk with them whenever you visit a National Park.


I'm not much a photographer and only have a point and shoot but I just love this picture. It is so rare that I can find one that I take that is actually nice. But this one fits the bill - for me anyway.


Coming up next:
Touring the fort

[honeybee723]

I will have to agree with you about the park rangers. They interview them on one of our local news stations all the time, and talk about a group of people who really love their job. They get so excited just talking about the history of the fort. And the kids with the flags...the teacher should have been the one to say something. What a shame that it had to be you. Makes you wonder what else the teacher isn't doing.

[chezp]

Fascinating about the flag - I learnt a lot. I wasn't too far out about the States. I was thinking 20 and I think as a non-American, that wasn't a bad guess...

[Ace_Athena]

for the history lesson! I guessed the number of states correctly, but I didn't know about the fifteen stripes! Very interesting!

[lauriep]

Very cool that they let you participate in the flag ceremony.

[KMB733]

That's really cool about the flag ceremony!! Since I minored in American History in college I better not get this wrong, but I think there was 18 states.

[DawnK]

Oooohhh!! I loved that History lesson. I love anything to do with American History and I did not know that. Thank you...that was very cool!!!

[Colexis Mom]

Thanks for the history lesson!

[OhToodles!]

So cool Holly! Thanks so much for sharing!

[emvenable77]

Thanks for all of the history behind the fort and flag. I dont remember much of history from school and didn't find it interesting back then but I love learning about stuff like this now as an adult. I do hope to get out there one day! Can't wait to hear more about your time at the fort!

[mommapants]

Originally Posted by lauriep

You've become a TR-writing maniac! I love it. Evan's such a lucky little kid to have a mom who takes his interests seriously. I just love it when all the details of trip planning come together.

I know, like the planning gods have joined forces and this amazing trip just happens.

Originally Posted by Shelley the Pooh

Sounds like the weekend was meant to be since all the plans kinda fell together like that. I love when that happens. Last few times I was in Disney during football season, the Texans were on bye week so I didn't have to miss any games. Didn't plan it that way, just ended up happening that way. So cool!

I just love it when dumb luck works in your favor!

Originally Posted by KMB733

Great Start!!!

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Great start!

Originally Posted by chezp

Great start!

Thanks for following along

[mommapants]

Originally Posted by lauriep

What a great day this is turning out to be-- and it's not even 10am yet!

Trivia question: I believe Louisiana became a state before war was declared, so 18 states for the duration of the 3+ year war. (I need to brush up on my US history-- it's been a long time since I learned things like this!)

It truly was a great day. You'll have to read the next update for the answer

Originally Posted by scrappyjae

I didn't even realize that the Blue Angels were going to be at Andrew's. I am used to getting to see them down the road at Pax River Naval Base. When they do the Air show down here (a little over an hour from Andrews) their flight path for practicing goes right over my DM's house! And they fly really low. Loved seeing that when I was younger, post Top Gun movie days!!!! I actually got to meet one as they would have them come in and visit at some of the local High Schools.

They were load. I work just outside of Fort Dix in NJ and they had an airshow the weekend before the blue angels and I heard them practing. glad I did because I brought headphones for Evan because of that.

Originally Posted by GATechGal

Great so far. We love visiting forts. We've seen Ft. Frederica on St. Simons Island, Ft. King George in Darian Georgia, and Ft. Sumpter in Charleston. They are really neat.

I've done Fort Sumpter back when I was Jr High - don't remember much about it. Been to Fort Niagra and Augustine. But there are a few forts nearby - in DE and NJ and PA that I'd like to visit too.

Originally Posted by chezp

I'm glad you made it fine with the traffic. Wow, I'm surprised about the kids not standing up - over here but in the States...

I was disturbing - what are they teaching in schools these days?

Originally Posted by honeybee723

It's going to be very interesting hearing a "tourists" perspective of Baltimore's sites. See, I don't understand how Baltimore and "wonderful" go hand-in-hand, but that's only because I've lived in MD all my life, and have been commuting to this horrid city for over 4 years now. So far it sounds like you're having a great time at the Fort.

The Fort and Inner Harbor were very nice. I was in Johns Hopkins for 4 months one time and we couldn't even walk across the street to the boarding house when it was night so I know Baltimore (like any city) has it's down side too. - But let's focus on the good stuff.

Originally Posted by KMB733

Glad the day is off to a great start!!

Originally Posted by OhToodles!

Off to a great start!

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Glad you made it down there without any traffic! It's off to a good start!

We are off to a great start 0 it set the tone for the rest of the weekend.
Thanks for reading along.

[mommapants]

Originally Posted by honeybee723

I will have to agree with you about the park rangers. They interview them on one of our local news stations all the time, and talk about a group of people who really love their job. They get so excited just talking about the history of the fort. And the kids with the flags...the teacher should have been the one to say something. What a shame that it had to be you. Makes you wonder what else the teacher isn't doing.

I think being a Park Ranger must be a thank-less job. So many people don't care about history and they are so dedicated to it.

Originally Posted by chezp

Fascinating about the flag - I learnt a lot. I wasn't too far out about the States. I was thinking 20 and I think as a non-American, that wasn't a bad guess...

I have to admit - I had no clue how many states there were.

Originally Posted by Ace_Athena

for the history lesson! I guessed the number of states correctly, but I didn't know about the fifteen stripes! Very interesting!

I never knew we had 15 stripes - always thought it was 13.

Originally Posted by lauriep

Very cool that they let you participate in the flag ceremony.

It was an expericance never to be forgotten.

Originally Posted by KMB733

That's really cool about the flag ceremony!! Since I minored in American History in college I better not get this wrong, but I think there was 18 states.

Oh no - I'm no History major - just going by the Park Rangers but it was 15.

Originally Posted by DawnK

Oooohhh!! I loved that History lesson. I love anything to do with American History and I did not know that. Thank you...that was very cool!!!

You're welcome. I like History too - always make me thankful I live here - now.

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Thanks for the history lesson!

Hope it wasn't boring - I found it all very interesting

Originally Posted by OhToodles!

So cool Holly! Thanks so much for sharing!

I really thought it was neat learning something new.

Originally Posted by emvenable77

Thanks for all of the history behind the fort and flag. I dont remember much of history from school and didn't find it interesting back then but I love learning about stuff like this now as an adult. I do hope to get out there one day! Can't wait to hear more about your time at the fort!

It's amazing how life experience can make you apprciate "history" more. I hope you get out to see it sometime too.

[ariel14]

Great update!!! I love the history!!! More pls!!

[mommapants]

Touring the fort

After the flag ceremony the crowd dispersed around the fort and we began to explore some of the buildings.



There are basically 4 buildings in the courtyard. They were pretty much the living quarters but all of the upstairs were closed off. You could see a few bunks and a table and what-not and there are signs talking about the soldier’s daily lives. In one of the buildings were some items found during excavations and then a drawing of what the fort would have looked like during its hey-day. I think my 10 year old niece “got it” when we mentioned there was no heat, no AC, no running water and no bathrooms.





We saw the guard tower, officer’s quarters, enlisted men’s quarters and the powder magazine. By now Evan was itching to get up on the walls and walk around.



sorry this one is blurry I think the camera's focus was on the railing not the people





We climbed up the walls and looked at some of the cannons they had set up. Most of them were dated in the 1860’s (so around civil war time). They were HUGE. I thought for sure they were WWII but date range were 1865, 1862, 1867.



Megan wanted her picture in front of one. Evan was way more interested in the activity in the harbor as there was a big ship being tugged in; then a few tourist boats passed by. It was hard to imagine the harbor with hundreds of war ships sitting there.



Beth and I commented on how beautiful a day it was but how awful it would be to have been walking guard duty in full wool uniform in the July heat and humidity; or standing your post in the howling storms of winter. Things like that just make me appreciated the spoiled, pampered life I have. Thank you veterans!



Mom was trying to focus Evan on the history of the fort and trying to get him to picture the ships in the harbor but there was so much activity going on he couldn’t do it. He was so interested in the big ships and the factories and then you could hear a train whistle. So he might have missed the history lesson but he got the one about a busy harbor. I guess we toured around for about an hour and then started back toward the visitor’s center.



one of about 20 pictures on the boat coming into port

Many times when we go out for the day and do something fun like this I have the kids learn something new, and then quiz them on it later. It helps them to pay attention and sort of gives them a quest. For example last time we went to the zoo we saw the eagles and in their enclosure were a few dead mice just laying out. After a little reasoning Evan figured out that this is what they were going to eat. That was in February and even now if I ask him what do Eagles eat, he remembers. So I had given Megan 3 facts she had to learn and Evan 2.

Evan learned the country we were at war with was England and that Mr. Key wrote "the song about the flag". I’ll take Mr. Key as he couldn’t remember Francis Scott. Of course my mom couldn’t let that go and wanted to make sure he knew that England was now our best friend.

Now Megan remembered Francis Scott Key, that the flag had 15 stars and stripes and that the flag was the second “design” of our flag during its life span.

Next we had to make the obligatory stop at the gift shop and purchased a few things. Then we wanted to watch the film again since we had missed the beginning of it. We had about 5 minutes to wait before it started and I told Evan about the importance of standing when they play the song – it shows respect – we should always be respectful – blah, blah, blah. I said to my mom “I’m not going to cry this time” she told me she wasn’t going to either.

We watch the whole film and I was doing fine. Then at the very end when they play the SSB (everyone stood up this time – no kids groups here now) the screen showing the film lifts up and there is a wall of windows that look out onto the fort. Now when this happened earlier in the morning the night time flag (tiny) was flying. This time the huge flag was flying and I begin to well up – AGAIN. They get all done singing and I have tears in my eyes - AGAIN. I look over at my mom and she is crying too – AGAIN. “I lied” is all she said. Yes we are definitely cut from the same mold.

As we were leaving Evan was confused and said he didn’t think this was a real fort because they didn’t have the tower. In his mind he was so very literal – like a fort has to have a tower that looks like a rook chess piece or it isn’t a fort. Next it was a quick potty break and then heading out in search of some lunch. It was about 11am – right as I planned. The website said it takes about 2 hours to explore the fort and we were right on point with that.

Coming up next:
Lunch and more dumb luck