White House marks Fort McHenry anniversary with message on national resolve
The White House has commemorated the 212th anniversary of the Battle of Fort McHenry, linking the 1814 defence to the writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner”.
The White House issued a presidential message on 13 September marking the 212th anniversary of the Battle of Fort McHenry, fought during the War of 1812.
The message says about 1,000 American defenders held the fort through a 27-hour British bombardment before British forces withdrew. It presents the battle as a critical turning point in the conflict and as a defence of American sovereignty.
British forces had attacked Washington before turning towards Baltimore, where Fort McHenry guarded the city’s harbour. The account says local citizens formed a militia as the British began their assault on 13 September 1814.
The statement also links the battle to Francis Scott Key, who watched from a nearby ship and wrote the poem that later became the US national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner”.
The White House frames the anniversary as a reminder that freedom depends on continued national resolve and defence. It also connects the commemoration with references to sovereignty, national pride and the 250th anniversary of US independence.
