Michigan Senate, House Adopt Resolutions, honor "The Star-Spangled Banner" on its 200th Birthday
Michigan Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 08/28/2014 08:40 AM EDT
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Legislature Encourages Commemoration of "The Star-Spangled Banner" September 14, 2014 |
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War of 1812 Bicentennial
Michigan Senate, House adopt Resolutions encouraging communities, civic groups to honor “The Star-Spangled Banner” on its 200th Birthday, Sunday, September 14, 2014
Contact: Jim McConnell, Secretary, Michigan War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission
734-525-2062 or jam1776@sbcglobal.net
The Michigan Commission on the Commemoration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 expresses appreciation to the Michigan legislature for their adoption of a resolution encouraging civic groups to honor the creation of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key at the end of the Battle of Baltimore on September 14, 1814. With the failure of a British naval attack on Fort McHenry in Baltimore harbor, Key was inspired by the sight of the fifteen-star, fifteen stripe United States flag flying over the fort’s ramparts. “We appreciate the support provided by Senator Glenn Anderson (D-Westland) and Representative John Walsh (R-Livonia) in submitting the proposal in their respective chambers,” said Phil Porter, Michigan War of 1812 Commission Chair. Porter serves as director of Mackinac State Historic Parks. For more information on “The Star-Spangled Banner 200th birthday party and suggestions on organizing local events next September, please visit www.ssb.michiganhistoryed.org.
The Commission is working closely with The Star Spangled Music Foundation to encourage schools to participate in “Star Spangled Music Day” on Friday, September 12, 2014. The Star Spangled Music Foundation (SSMF) in partnership with the Michigan 1812 Commission, the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), America Sings, Resounding Joy, and others. For more information, visit http://starspangledmusic.org/
A resolution to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Star Spangled Banner. Adopted June 11, 2014 In the House, Resolution 0386 was offered by Reps. Walsh, Barnett, Brown, Crawford, Darany, Denby, Faris, Heise, Hooker, Howrylak, Lamonte, LaVoy, Poleski, Singh and Stanley. In the Senate, Resolution 159 was offered by Senators Anderson, Bieda, Hopgood, Kowall, Meekhof, Brandenburg, Colbeck and Moolenaar.
Whereas, Major George Armistead, the American commander at Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor, in 1813 requested two large 15-star flags for the fort, a large 30’ by 42’ great garrison flag and smaller 17’ by 25’ storm flag, to be flown in inclement weather; and Whereas, Mary Young Pickersgill, a Baltimore seamstress, was commissioned to create both flags at a cost of $405.90 for the garrison flag and $168.54 for the storm flag; and Whereas, The British attack on Fort McHenry on September 13 and 14 of 1814 inspired Francis Scott Key to write the lyric “In Defence of Fort M’Henry” to the tune of “To Anacreon in Heaven”. Key’s lyric was quickly printed and then re-named “The Star-Spangled Banner” and performed publicly in the Baltimore area; and Whereas, President Herbert Hoover signed the Act of Congress designating “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the National Anthem of the United States of America on March 3, 1931; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Star Spangled Banner. We urge local communities, elected officials, civic and religious leaders, educators, local historians, and the general public to organize and hold special events in their communities in mid-September to help commemorate this important chapter in American and Michigan history. The governor-appointed Michigan Commission on the Commemoration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 is charged with encouraging, planning, and developing activities, events, programs, observances and services appropriate to commemorate Michigan's role in the War of 1812.
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