Star-Spangled Banner Weekend

Transcription

1 The Friends of Fort McHenry, in partnership with the National Park Service and Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine request your support for the Star-Spangled Banner Weekend September 9, 10 and 11, 2011 Fireworks over Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine 1

2 Table of Contents Page Overview: The Friends of Fort McHenry and the Star-Spangled Banner Weekend 2 Star-Spangled Spectacular Sponsor Reception 3 Sponsor Levels and Explanation of Benefits 4 Commitment Sheet and Ticket Information 5 Weekend Schedule of Events 6 Defenders Day Evening Events 7 Young Defenders Day Program Sponsors 9 Story of the Battle of Baltimore 10 Photo courtesy of Maryland Governor s Office 1

3 The Friends of Fort McHenry and the STAR-SPANGLED BANNER WEEKEND The Friends of Fort McHenry provide funding support for the Star-Spangled Banner Weekend held each September at Fort McHenry. It is a three-day weekend of stirring events attended by thousands, including student participants of Young Defenders Day (see page 8). The feature event of the Weekend, Defenders Day, will celebrate the 197 th anniversary of the Americans great victor y over attacking British forces during the Battle of Baltimore in September 1814 and Francis Scott Key s writing of the immortal poem that became our National Anthem. The Friends of Fort McHenry will host the Star-Spangled Spectacular on Saturday evening, September 10 as part of the Defenders Day evening celebration. The Friends of Fort McHenry is the recognized Friends group of Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. Its mission, in partnership with the National Park Service, is to support the development and implementation of educational programming and living history activities and the creation of interpretive exhibits and visitor facilities that best engender the widest possible understanding and appreciation of Fort McHenry and the enduring legacy and promise of The Star-Spangled Banner, our National Anthem. The Friends of Fort McHenry provide funding support for special events and educational living history programs such as the Star-Spangled Banner Weekend, Young Defenders Day, the Fort McHenry Experience, and other youth outreach activities. The Friends were also instrumental in raising funds for the building of the Fort s new Visitor Center, which opened in March 2011 and features three outstanding new exhibits engaging visitors through state-of-the-art interactives. Proceeds from sponsorships for the Star-Spangled Banner Weekend will support the activities of the Weekend and all Friends educational programming. In addition to their involvement with this event, the Friends are active in the planning for the forthcoming celebration of the 200 th anniversary of the War of 1812, the Battle of Baltimore (1814), and the writing of The Star-Spangled Banner. This will be a nationwide celebration in which Maryland and Baltimore will have a central role. The kick off event to the Bicentennial celebration will occur in June 2012 when the United States Navy and their international naval guests visit Baltimore s harbor. Over the next two years, additional activities will include many national and local celebratory events with substantial media coverage and should bring much favorable attention to Maryland, Baltimore, Fort McHenry, and Maryland businesses. New Fort McHenry Visitor Center All photos courtesy of the National Park Service unless otherwise noted 2

4 Star-Spangled Spectacular Sponsor Reception Featuring: The Presentation of the Francis Scott Key Award to Raymond A. Chip Mason Saturday, September 10, :00 9:00 p.m. on the grounds of Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Tickets available through the Friends of Fort McHenry website: As part of the Star-Spangled Banner Weekend, the Friends of Fort McHenry will host a private reception on the grounds. Sponsors, members, and guests will enjoy a lavish buffet dinner and drinks provided by Atlantic Catering, Clipper City Brewing Co., and other local establishments. Guests will enjoy delicious food, observe the National Park Service s evening program from private seating, and have ringside seats for the re-enactment of the bombardment and the magnificent fireworks that follow. Contributions received by the Friends for this event support the activities of the Star-Spangled Banner Weekend, Young Defenders Day, and year-round, hands-on educational programming at Fort McHenry for all ages, particularly for Baltimore City youth. The highlight of the reception will be the presentation of the Francis Scott Key Award, the Friends highest honor, to an individual or organization that has made outstanding contributions to preserving the legacy of the birthplace of The Star- Spangled Banner. The 2011 Award will be presented to Raymond A. Chip Mason, Chair of the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission. The War of 1812 Bicentennial will be celebrated nationwide and will include significant events in Baltimore. Past Recipients include: Admiral John C. Harvey, Jr. Henry Rosenberg Senator Ben Cardin Senator Barbara Mikulski Senator Paul Sarbanes Fort McHenry Business Association Society for the War of 1812 in Maryland 3

5 Star-Spangled Banner Weekend Sponsor Levels and Explanation of Benefits GENERAL - Presenting Sponsorship Benefits 20 tickets to the Star-Spangled Spectacular and two reserved tables for guests Logo and company/organization name in the weekend events brochure with special recognition Listing on the Partners and Supporters page of the Friends of Fort McHenry website for one year Framed print by Dale Gallon The Flag is Full of Stars and a commemorative flag flown over Fort McHenry, presented in a display case Private tour of Fort McHenry for 25 people to include a cannon firing provided by Fort staff at a date to be mutually determined Contribution: $10,000 COLONEL Benefits 20 tickets to the Star-Spangled Spectacular and two reserved tables for guests Logo and company/organization name in the weekend events brochure Listing on the Partners and Supporters page of the Friends of Fort McHenry website for one year Framed print by Dale Gallon The Flag is Full of Stars Contribution: $5,000 MAJOR Benefits 10 tickets to the Star-Spangled Spectacular and one reserved table for guests Logo in the weekend events brochure Listing on the Partners and Supporters page of the Friends of Fort McHenry website for one year Flag flown over Fort McHenry, presented in a display case Contribution: $2,500 CAPTAIN Benefits 10 tickets to the Star-Spangled Spectacular and a reserved table for guests Logo in the weekend events brochure Listing on the Partners and Supporters page of the Friends of Fort McHenry website for one year Contribution: $1,000 Sponsor opportunities will be available at any time but to take full advantage of all sponsor benefits, we need your commitment by July 1, For more information, contact Jennifer Frieman, Administrative Director, Friends of Fort McHenry, 2400 E. Fort Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230, ext. 850 or jfrieman@friendsoffortmchenry.org 4

6 The Friends of Fort McHenry Star-Spangled Banner Weekend September 9, 10, and 11, 2011 YES, I would like to sponsor and attend the Star-Spangled Spectacular on Saturday, September 10, 2011 and support educational programming at Fort McHenry by contributing on the following level: General $10, tickets and two reserved tables Colonel $5, tickets and two reserved tables Major $2, tickets and one reserved table Captain $1, tickets and one reserved table NO, I cannot attend this year s Star-Spangled Spectacular, but I would like to make a fully tax-deductible contribution to the Friends of Fort McHenry in support of the event and educational programming. (INDIVIDUAL TICKETS TO THE STAR-SPANGLED SPECTACULAR MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH THE FRIENDS OF FORT MCHENRY WEBSITE AT Enclosed is my check, made out to the Friends of Fort McHenry for $ Please accept my pledge of $ Please charge my credit card in the amount of $ VISA MasterCard AmEx # Expires: / Contact Name Company Name Address City, State, Zip Phone Number Fax Number Signature Please mail or fax this form with payment or pledge to: Jennifer Frieman, Administrative Director, Friends of Fort McHenry, 2400 East Fort Avenue, Baltimore, MD Phone: ext. 850 FAX jfrieman@friendsoffortmchenry.org Proceeds benefit Education programs of the Friends of Fort McHenry 5

7 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER WEEKEND SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Friday, September 9 Young Defenders Day activities (see page 8) Flags to the Fort Parade through Inner Harbor and the Locust Point community Defenders Day: Saturday, September 10 Dress Parade and Flag Raising Defend the Battery! cannon firing demonstration on water battery Lest We Forget memorial and wreath-laying The Burning of Washington and Birth of the Anthem book signing by author Anthony Pitch The Sounds of Battle musket firing tactical demonstration Fife and Drum Concert in Fort Ceremonial Flag Change in Fort Star-Spangled Spectacular Special VIP and Sponsor Reception (see page 5) Defenders Day Ceremony - Evening Program (see page 7) Sunday, September 11 Flag Raising, Dress Parade and Memorial Service Defend the Battery cannon firing Musket firing demonstration 6

8 Defenders Day Featured Evening Events The Friends of Fort McHenry Star-Spangled Spectacular kicks off at 5:00 p.m. under a private tent set up for special honorees, local leaders, sponsors, members and guests (see page 5 for ticket information). The Friends will present the Francis Scott Key Award. The National Park Service will present an evening program with opening remarks by the Superintendent of Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. Governor Martin O Malley and other dignitaries will also give brief remarks. The evening program will feature: Tactical demonstration period dress troops will demonstrate battle tactics from 1814 Grand Procession of 1812 soldiers. Parade includes stirring fife and drum music! Concert of historic spirituals by the Society for the Preservation of African-American Life and History Concert by The United States Naval Academy Band Ship to shore bombardment a fireworks barge exchanges rockets with shore artillery to simulate the bombardment Hoisting of the 30 x 42 foot Star-Spangled Banner, a replica of the original flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the National Anthem Musical rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner while flag is being hoisted Spectacular fireworks display! 7

9 Young Defenders Day On Friday, September 9, over 1,100 students from Baltimore City schools will participate in a curriculum-based educational program focused on the writing of The Star-Spangled Banner and successful defense of the city in While at the Fort, students learn from and interact with over 100 specially trained living history interpreters. Interactive presentations highlight Francis Scott Key, the role of African-Americans in defense of the city, military drilling during the War of 1812, flag activities using a full-sized replica of the Star-Spangled Banner, and basic principles of the physics of cannon-firing. Students have a chance to meet the Mayor of Baltimore (invited) and hear about how the events that took place at Fort McHenry shaped our modern city and nation and continue to inspire us today. 8

10 Star-Spangled Banner Weekend 2010 Sponsors The Friends of Fort McHenry thanks its sponsors and partners for their generous support of the 2010 Star-Spangled Banner Weekend Atlantic Caterers, Inc. BalTerm, LLP Clipper City Brewing Company Forrester Construction Company General Ship Repair GWWO, Inc./Architects Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services Living Classrooms Foundation Maryland Arms Collectors Association Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission National Park Service Ports America Chesapeake Inc. Propeller Club of the US Port of Baltimore Rukert Terminals Corp. Ryleigh s Oyster Brig. Gen. Warner Sumpter (Ret.) UPM-Kymenne The Friends of Fort McHenry is the recognized Friends group of Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. Its mission, in partnership with the National Park Service, is to support the development and implementation of educational programming and living history activities, and the creation of interpretive exhibits and visitor facilities that best engender the widest possible understanding and appreciation of Fort McHenry and the enduring legacy and promise of The Star- Spangled Banner, our National Anthem. 9

11 September 1814: The Battle of Baltimore The fate of America was at stake in September The British fleet moved up the Chesapeake Bay intent on destroying the major port city of Baltimore, leaving the capital city of Washington, D.C. burning in their wake. On September 13 at 6:30 a.m. the British began a 25-hour bombardment of Fort McHenry. Throughout the day and night a young Baltimore lawyer named Francis Scott Key watched the attack from the deck of a British ship. As the sun rose on September 14, Key watched the American flag unfurl over the ramparts of the Fort a sight which would inspire him to write the poem that would later become our National Anthem. In 1814 the citizen-soldiers of Baltimore stood to defend our young nation. Today the citizens of Baltimore assemble to honor that remarkable feat and share their pride in this great city. The climax of the weekend comes on Saturday evening with a program which includes remarks by the Governor, the Mayor, and other dignitaries and features a moving musical concert and exciting living history re-enactments. The evening culminates in dazzling fireworks as part of a stirring recreation of the British bombardment. This tribute to the courageous and triumphant defense of Fort McHenry is a spectacle which inspires all who attend. September 2011 marks the 197 th anniversary of the bombardment and the writing of the immortal poem which became our National Anthem. We invite you to share the spotlight and help us celebrate Baltimore s place in our nation s history. 10