Local students get history lesson at Fort McHenry

(Baltimore Sun) Many of the 1,400 students at Fort McHenry on Friday had heard about the defense of Baltimore in 1814 against a British amphibious invasion, an American triumph that inspired Francis Scott Key to pen what would become the national anthem. Taking part in the "Young Defenders" event enabled the youngsters to experience the historic moment, as they shrieked to the near-deafening sounds of cannon blasts and captured the demonstrations on cell phone cameras. "We hear about it in class, but to actually see it is totally different; you understand the environment from actually seeing it," said Jennifer Vukov, 16, of Dundalk, a junior at Patapsco High School. Continued

Image: Library of Congress