NEW YORK CITY

March 29, 1963

Mrs. Tawes and I are most grateful to Marylanders now living
in New York for inviting us here to celebrate this 329th anniversary
of the Maryland Society of New York.

When I contemplate the history of our great State, I am impressed
by two things. One is the habit that Maryland has had of meeting
the emergencies of the whole American nation. The other is the ease
with which our own Maryland people forget the great services they
have rendered, once the emergency is past. I should like this evening
to discuss these characteristics of Maryland.

Let us consider some of the contributions that Maryland has made
to our nation. The American National Anthem, the beloved and
triumphant name of the American flag—the Star-Spangled Banner—
and the United States capital are all possessions which our country
has received from Maryland. Flag, song and capital—yes. Truly a
wonderful list.

The naming of our flag and the creation of our national song came
out of what is perhaps the greatest emergency our nation has ever
faced. Let us consider the situation as it was in September, 1814.
The British had taken Washington. Our President and all our important
federal officials had fled into hiding. Our capital building was in ashes.
The shops and homes of our capital city had been looted. Our armed
forces had been scattered. Only thirty years had passed since the
United States became a nation, and it looked as if the end were at
hand. The British themselves believed that it was. In their view,
only one more thing needed to be done. Capture Baltimore, and it
would all be over. So they moved their invading forces toward our
Maryland port city. A vast force the British had, too. Fifty ships of
the line from the undefeated British navy, vessels carrying the heaviest
armament available in the world at that time. As for land action,
there were the troops who had just defeated Napoleon—the Duke of
Wellington's Invincibles, as they were called, and Lord Nelson's marines.
To meet these, in Baltimore, there was virtually no force except Mary-
land militia, commanded by militia officers. The world knows the
result. There was a battle, and when it was over the enemy sailed
away. The United States, with the mighty Star-Spangled Banner flying
over Fort McHenry was saved. And in Baltimore, a new song was
being sung.

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