We took the month of December off from exciting adventures and devoted our time to doing school work, diving back into extracurriculars and fun with friends, enjoying some holiday traditions, and a little bit of relaxing after months of going strong on the road and trails. But, it didn’t take long for the National Parks Service to start calling our names.
Brickhead was inspired by the heart wrenching battle saga, with its bombs bursting in air and prisoners at sea keeping an eye on the flag to see if our country had won. He was exceptionally interested in British cannons that focused fire at the flagstaff at Fort McHenry while Americans sacrificed their lives to keep the flag standing. The dramatization was a sure depiction of ultimate patriotism, but—did it really happen? Can you believe what you see on YouTube? These are the questions that make homeschooling the best! A quick internet search showed that Fort HcHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine was just an hour away and would be just the place to find out! It was an exceptionally foggy and rainy New Year's Eve when we set out to see the fort. Fog was forecasted to dissipate before we arrived, but lo and behold, it seemed to get worse throughout the day. No need to let a little rain ruin our fun (and learning) though! To some, the War of 1812 is the “Forgotten War.” How many of you can say you remember why it was fought and who participated? To understand this war, you have to transport yourself back to 1812. The USA was a new country. Native Americans still lived on much of the land, albeit being forced off unwillingly. We already claimed the Northwest Territory (what is now Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota). Florida was Spanish territory and the British owned much of Canada. The Louisiana Purchase was being explored and mapped and was still considered "The Great Desert," not suitable for farming. Britain, no doubt still upset over losing the colonies to a new army, imposed a blockade on U.S. maritime trade, crippling the economy. Frustrated with blockades and hoping to expand the blossoming country, the U.S. fought back. Summarizing the events of the war here wouldn't do justice to the many battles that took place, nor to the soldiers and civilians who laid their lives on the line to sustain our young country. What did the war accomplish and who won? That’s hard to say. Eventually the Treaty of Ghent ended the war in 1815. Neither side accomplished the goals they set out to do. The U.S. didn't expand north into Canada as it had hoped. It did, however, renew a sense of pride and patriotism for our new country who stood up to the military powerhouse of the world and won. For Natives, it was tragic, as it symbolized a termination to prior treaties made with England, and marked the end of any British support against the expanding states. I recommend this documentary to find out more. Every American should go to Fort McHenry if they get to Baltimore. The visitor center is very well done with a stirring documentary of the battle and the writing of Francis Scott Key's poem that became our national anthem. After the documentary, the movie screen rolls up to reveal a window overlooking the fort. The Star Spangled Banner plays, while visitors stand with their hands on their hearts and a renewed sense of what that song means for our country. After some more education from the indoor exhibits, visitors head outside to tour the fort and learn about its use in both the War of 1812 and the Civil War. We highly recommend having kids participate in the Junior Ranger program to enhance learning. So, what's the verdict? Was the YouTube dramatization true to fact? As it turns out, it's not. Of the 1,000 men defending the fort that night, only four soldiers were killed and 28 were injured in battle. The Garrison Flag (now on display at the Smithsonian), which measured 30 x 42 feet (the largest flag ever made to that date), was taken down at night and stored during the battle. And trust me--after seeing a small scale replica of the flagpole, there is no way any man or group of men could hold it upright while getting shot at. So, contrary to the YouTube narration with over 20 million views, no Americans were killed as they held the flag pole upright during the bombing. Nevertheless, I can imagine that Key and prisoners at sea were greatly relieved to see the flag being raised in the morning. Dramatization makes for great storytelling, so Brickhead still says he prefers the YouTube version. Go figure. The whole fort was a great experience, and I really enjoyed the exhibit of the role the Star Spangled Banner has played in our country over time. The song became our national anthem in 1916, but even then it was controversial. Critics questioned the truth behind the statement "land of the free," or suggested that another song of peace and prayer like "America the Beautiful" would better suit our anthem. Others stand for that first note and are overwhelmed with an immense sense of pride in their country that moves them to tears. For some it's a way to honor those who have served or given the ultimate sacrifice while protecting our country. Like any good poem, the words have different meaning to each participant. What does the Star Spangled Banner mean to you?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
October 2022
Categories |