Take a tour of Canada's HMCS Athabaskan docked in Baltimore
Destroyer from Halifax heads from Baltimore to Caribbean
O say can you see, Canada's HMCS Athabaskan in Baltimore? The destroyer is docked south of the border in the historic U.S. city this weekend to mark the 200th anniversary of The Star-Spangled Banner.
The U.S. national anthem was essentially born in Baltimore on Sept.14, 1814, when American soldiers held off an attack by the British and raised the stars and stripes flag over Fort McHenry to signal their victory.
Francis Scott Key witnessed the "bombs bursting in air" and was inspired to write the poem that eventually became the lyrics of the national anthem. He watched the bombardment from a boat not far from Baltimore's harbour.
Key scribbled the first verse of the poem, with the opening line "O say can you see, by the dawn's early light," on the back of a letter and completed four more verses when he got back to Baltimore.
The Star-Spangled Banner was published in Baltimore newspapers soon after, then in more newspapers in the following weeks along the East Coast. It was not until 1931 that the song was officially adopted as the U.S. national anthem.
A series of events are being held over the coming days to commemorate the Battle of Baltimore and The Star-Spangled Banner, including concerts, fireworks, an air show and a gathering of more than 30 tall ships and naval vessels from Canada, Norway, Spain, Germany and other nations.
Welcomed as an ally
Two hundred years ago, the U.S. and Canada were not on the same side during the War of 1812, but now Canada is welcomed in Baltimore as an ally, and not treated as an enemy.
HMCS Athabaskan's commander, Matt Plaschka, said he hasn't gotten any teasing or heard any jokes since arriving in the U.S. about who really won the war.
"I haven't heard of any jokes. In fact I've heard nothing but praise for the engagement the crew has made with our allies down here," he said in an interview aboard the ship, which is carrying about 300 crew members.
"Our visit here just continues to reinforce that relationship between our two countries," said Plaschka.
Once HMCS Athabaskan leaves Baltimore it sails for the Caribbean as part of Operation CARIBBE, a multinational campaign against illict trafficking and organized crime.