Tomorrow is the 212th anniversary of the Battle of Bladensburg. To honor this moment, Congressional Cemetery hosted a wreath-laying ceremony. It began with the colors being brought in by members of the Society of the War of 1812 Maryland Color Guard. (RSP)
After an invocation by Air Force Chaplain Corwin Smith and the singing of the national anthem by Army Staff Sergeant Vicki Golding and an overview of the battle by Dr. Glenn Williams, formerly of the U.S. Army Center of Military History, the podium was turned over to Brigadier General Leland D. Blanchard II, currently commanding the D.C. National Guard. (RSP)
Blanchard and Mark Hudson, executive director of Congressional Cemetery then picked up the wreath while A.J. Orlikoff, director of programming at Congressional, looked on. (RSP)
The wreath was laid at one of the graves of the 26 currently-known members of the D.C. militia that fought in the Battle of Bladensburg. (RSP)
The Color Guard then fired a volley in honor of the soldiers. (RSP)
The other soldiers received flags from members of the public, directed by Orlikoff. (RSP)
A small but spirited group of people made their way around the cemetery to learn more about the men who stepped up in August 1814 to protect the Capital. (RSP)
