Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Buoy

By Elizabeth Prata

Did you know that the spot where Francis Scott Key penned the verses to what became the National Anthem of the Star Spangled Banner is in the Patapsco River, and marked by a red-while-blue buoy? It's maintained by the Coast Guard, explained here (excerpt):

The US Coast Guard tending the buoy. It's not for navigational purposes,
rather, it's a monument to our history. Photo source

On Sept. 14, 1814, Key was a prominent Georgetown attorney, and he was aboard a flag-of-truce vessel, trying to secure the release of William Beanes, a Maryland doctor imprisoned by the British for arresting English soldiers near his home. It was then that 25 British ships began their bombardment of the port of Baltimore and Fort McHenry. Through the night, Key witnessed cannon and gunfire pummeling the fort, and, when he saw the flag still flying at dawn in an unbeaten defiance, he immortalized the scene in a four-verse poem. More at link

Here's what Baltimore Harbor looked like in the early 1990s when we sailed past that buoy and anchored in the harbor.

It felt good to look at the buoy as we passed it, and to refresh our memory. That is exactly one reason why we traveled, to learn more about our country and to see where important events in our nation's history occurred. It's sad that we have a current climate of ravening, ignorant crowds pulling down monuments willy nilly. Monuments are important. At least this buoy is in a spot where they can't get to it.

I enjoyed sailing past the buoy and learning more about that spot and the history behind our national anthem. If you pass a statue or plaque or marked spot somewhere on your daily routines or travels, please take a minute to learn why it's there and the history behind it. Someone thought enough to put it there for a reason.