Most Maryland Day celebrations are given over to re-enactors in 17th century costumes, breastplates and lace collars. But this year, things were different. The Fort McHenry guard, in early 19th century naval garb, got into the act as historical groups celebrated not only the 380th anniversary of the founding of Maryland, but the 200th anniversary of the Star Spangled Banner as well.
They gathered in the Basilica on Cathedral Street Tuesday morning for what Scott Watkins, one of the organizers, called a service of thanksgiving and a blessing of a replica of the flag that flew over Fort McHenry during the British bombardment in September 1814. That flag was stitched by hand from materials similar to those of the original flag by thousands of Marylanders and with help from people from 16 different countries.
But first, the arrival of the Ark and the Dove on St. Clements Island in the Potomac River. Daniel Fire Hawk, a descendant of the Nanticoke Chiefs of the Eastern Shore, was there to represent his people.
Native people had been living on the shores “of this great shellfish bay” for 20,000 years before Cecilius Calvert and his settlers arrived, he said. They had an impact on the development of this state and of this county “we live in today.”
“And we’re still sharing it with you,” he added.
Drummers from Ft. McHenry pounded out a persistent street beat as a procession of men and women in in 17th century costume headed for the altar, where Watkins adopted a British accent to read the long list of Cecilius Calvert’s titles and the royal proclamation awarding Maryland to the Calverts. And he added a charge to today’s citizens of Maryland to maintain the unity that allowed the early settlers and the young nation to survive.
“The same unity with the grace of God that will help the great people of this land into the future,” he read. “Fattii Maschii Femine Parole. May your deeds always be brave and your words wise and gentle. God Bless You.”
There were speeches and greetings and more drums as members of the Fort McHenry guard brought the replica of the 1814 flag forward to be blessed by a parade of clergy before it went back out the aisle and off to Annapolis where Governor Martin O’Malley welcomed it in a ceremony in the rotunda of the State House.
The original flag was sewn together not only by Mary Pickersgill, a widow who lived on Albemarle Street, but also her daughters and an indentured African American servant girl named Grace Wisher, O’Malley said.
“So that big large flag, that symbol of us, was sewn together by black and white hands, and the thread that held it together is the same thread that holds it together today. And it is the thread of human dignity: The dignity of place, the dignity of every individual, the dignity of home, the dignity of neighbors willing to courageously defend neighbors.”
All of which means that on this Maryland Day, at least, George and Cecil Calvert had to share the stage with the Francis Scott Key and the defenders of Fort McHenry.
Christopher Connelly contributed to this report.