Excerpt from Fort McHenry, MD: Hearing Before the Committee on Appropriations House of Representatives Sixty-Third Congress Second Sessions on H. R. 11174
Mr. Linthicum. Mr. Chairman, the bill which I desire to present to-day is H. R. 11174, providing for the appropriation of a sum of money for the erection at Fort McHenry, Md., of a monument and flagstaff to Francis Scott Key, and a memorial hall to the defenders of the Nation in the War of 1812; the erection of a monument upon the North Point Battlefield near Baltimore, and for the necessary alterations in the buildings and grounds of Fort McHenry.
I do not believe it necessary for me to read the entire bill, as the members of the committee each have a copy before them, but I ask that it be extended in the hearings.
A Bill Providing for the appropriation of a sum of money for the erection at Fort McHenry of a monument and flagstaff to Francis Scott Key and a memorial hall to the defenders of the Nation in the War of Eighteen hundred and twelve, and the erection of a monument upon the North Point battle field, and for the necessary alterations in the buildings and grounds in connection therewith.
Whereas a national patriotic celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of the Star-Spangled Banner, the defense of Fort McHenry, and the Battle of North Point will be held in the city of Baltimore in September, nineteen hundred and fourteen; and
Whereas these events are of great significance to the Nation in marking the climax of the defense of the country against invasion in the War of Eighteen hundred and twelve, the repulse of the force which had captured and despoiled the National Capital, and the origin of Key's matchless song; and
Whereas this blow to the invaders was soon followed by the treaty of Ghent, which established the commercial freedom of the United States as the final step in the achievement of national independence; and
Whereas in a celebration of this kind the National Government, in whose defense the battles were fought, ought to lend its aid so that the lessons of patriotism which it will convey may be impressed upon the people: Therefore
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there shall be erected at Fort McHenry, under the direction of the Secretary of War, a monument and flagstaff in honor of Francis Scott Key, the author of the Star-Spangled Banner.
Sec. 2. That there shall be erected at Fort McHenry, under the direction of the Secretary of War, a building to he known as Defenders Memorial Hall, in memory of the men who successfully defended Fort McHenry at the time of the British attack on that fortification and of the other soldiers, sailors, and civilians who served their country in the War of Eighteen hundred and twelve.
Sec. 3. There shall be erected on the North Point battle field, upon the lot known as Doctor Houck's Acre, a monument to the citizen soldiers of Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, who participated in the successful defense of Baltimore against the attack of the British invading army in eighteen hundred and fourteen: Provided, however, That the State of Maryland shall first cede to Congress its right and title to said acre of land.
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