Yesterday marked the 200th anniversary of the Burning of Washington by the British during the War of 1812. Commemorations of the event occurred across the region, with Bladensburg leading the way. Closer to home, there were numerous celebrations. These celebrations included a tour of the Navy Yard neighborhood that attempted to reconstruct what this area looked like when the British showed up. As I was leading this particular event, I have no pictures of it. However, two celebrations on Sunday did not evade my camera, and the results thereof follow.
The Pride of Baltimore 2, which, while being all of 25 years old, is modeled after War of 1812 designs, is parked at the Navy Yard and awaits visitors.
Built to look much like the privateers that captured British shipping during the war, it today is a symbol of friendship from Maryland.
The rigging and sails are still exactly like what used to sail the ocean. A peek under the deck shows modern computer equipment.
None of that equipment helps, however, when climbing up the mast in order to rig the sails. This is still done by hand, and can be more than a little dicey in heavy winds.
A last view of the Pride through the porthole of the officer’s mess in the USS Barry.
The last party of the weekend was what has become a tradition: The Burning of Washington party. It was held this year in Congressional Cemetery, which also had a British-chased run that morning.
Started by Tim Krepp (in the red shirt on the left) it celebrates the tragic events of 200 years ago in the best possible way: With fire. First off, a model of the Navy Yard is torched (Quite appropriately, by US citizens who also built the model)
Next up was an appropriately half-built model of the Capitol. Torching it was UK citizen Alistair Thomson.
The model burned to everyone’s satisfaction.
For the piece-de-resistance, a model of the White House donated by Kathleen Donahue of Labyrinth, an appropriately important personage was needed to do the honors.
The party organizers came through in spades, enlisting Lord Griffiths of Burry Port to set the fire. Lord Griffiths came through in spades, starting with a speech, then proceeding to unbutton his shirt to show his true colors.
With a little help from the audience (in the form of some tinder) the White House was set aflame.
The audience was impressed – and then a bit worried when a fire engine came screaming up Potomac Avenue. Fortunately, not attracted by the scads of ugly black smoke produced.
With his work complete, Lord Griffiths took off his shirt to show that there were, after everything, no hard feelings.