THE
STAR SPANGLED TRAIL WOULD HELP COMMEMORATE THE WAR OF 1812
By Senator
Benjamin L. Cardin
The War of
1812 was a pivotal event in our nation's early history, an event
that many historians often refer to as our "Second War of
Independence." In 1814, the military campaign in Maryland,
Virginia and Washington, D.C. turned the direction of the war
and remains the only combined naval and land attack in our nation's
history.
I recently
joined with U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes (D-3rd) in introducing two
pieces of legislation to commemorate the War of 1812. The first
bill would establish the "Star Spangled Banner Trail"
in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia as a National
Historic Trail.
The National Historic Trails system commemorates major routes
of historic travel and events that have shaped American history.
Currently,
there are 19 National Historic Trails, including the Lewis and
Clark, the Pony Express, Selma to Montgomery and the Trail of
Tears. To be designated a National Historic Trail, a proposed
route must meet three criteria: it must be nationally significant,
have a documented route through maps or journals and provide recreational
opportunities.
Sites along
the Star Spangled Banner Trail would mark some of the most important
events of the War of 1812. The trail beings with the June 1814
battle between the British Navy and the American Chesapeake Flotilla
in St. Leonard's Creek in Calvert County, follows the British
landing at Benedict on the Patuxent River, and then moves on to
the British march into Washington, D.C., which was sacked and
burned.
From Washington,
the Trail follows the British campaign to
the Battle of North Point and on to Baltimore, which at the time
was considered a much more important city than Washington. The
Trail ends at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, site of the defeat of
the British and where Francis Scott Key composed our National
Anthem.
The bicentennial
of this Second War of Independence should receive broad, national
recognition. To help plan a national celebration honoring the
War of 1812, Rep. Sarbanes and I also have introduced legislation
to establish the Star Spangled Banner War of 1812 Bicentennial
Commission to help plan, and coordinate the 200th
anniversary celebration.
As Marylanders,
we are all proud of the role our state has played in our nation's
history. The creation of the Trail will help all Americans gain
a better appreciation of what it took to preserve our nation.
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