Commodore Stephen Decatur Chapter, USD 1812

04/02/2026

During the , the British raided small towns up and down the Chesapeake Bay, including Georgetown, Maryland (located on the eastern shore on the Sassafras River).

The British had set most of the town aflame when Catharine "Kitty" Knight persuaded British Rear Admiral George Cockburn to save one house--occupied by an ailing, elderly woman--from destruction. Her pleas also saved the neighboring home, where she rented, and the remainder of the town as well.

Not until after her death in 1855, in her obituary, was there written documentation of her heroism during the raid of Georgetown. The two adjacent houses saved by Kitty Knight have since been combined into one and now house a restaurant that bears her name.

To learn more: https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/historyculture/kitty-knight.htm

📸 Kitty Knight persuades Cockburn to spare homes in Georgetown. (c) GERRY EMBELTON]


Kent County, Maryland Tourism; Historical Society of Kent County

09/14/2025

Happy Star Spangled Banner Day!

in 1814, after a 25-hour bombardment, the smoke cleared over Fort McHenry, and the fort was still held by the Americans.

Just before 9:00 a.m., Major Armistead ordered the storm flag taken down. The same flag that Francis Scott Key had seen “at the twilight’s last gleaming" now hanging limp and heavy from rain. Following army regulations, at 9:00 a.m. Armistead ordered the garrison flag raised. The garrison’s fife and drums, joined by the musicians of the Maryland militia, played the national air “Yankee Doodle” while the large wool 30’ x 42’ garrison flag was hoisted.

The Star-Spangled Banner flew high as a symbol of courage, resilience, and strength. Baltimore had faced the strongest navy in the world and refused to yield.

Today, at Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine, we celebrate that spirit and honor the events that led Key to write the national anthem. Walk the grounds where history was made, hear the stories of ordinary people rising to extraordinary challenges, and see how a city and its defenders came together to protect freedom.

Learn more: https://go.nps.gov/BattleOfBaltimore

📸 NPS/Tim Ervin
Image: Sunlight shines through a replica garrison flag flying over the sallyport of Fort McHenry.

09/14/2025

Sept. 13, 1814: British ships began a 25-hour bombardment on Fort McHenry.

The fort defended the water approach to the city of Baltimore and the future of the city, and possibly the United States, depended on the outcome.

After the American defeat at Bladensburg, and the British capture and partial burning of Washington, D.C., a loss here would be devastating....

[image: illustration of vessels bombarding Fort McHenry from the Patapsco River at night; credit: Peter Rindlisbacher] Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine

04/30/2025

Our Chapter President, Sarah Meyers, had the honor to present the NUSD1812 JROTC Award to an outstanding cadet at Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin. Congratulations to all the amazing cadets!

11/17/2024

Our bag cutting party yesterday was a lot of fun and very productive. We're collecting and cutting plastic bags to make plarn to crochet mats to give out to homeless veterans.