Francis Scott Key
125th Commemoration
Wednesday, August 9th, 2023@ 6pm
Star-Spangled Plaza
Mount Olivet Cemetery
Frederick, Maryland
Mount Olivet's iconic monument to Francis Scott Key was dedicated amidst great fanfare on August 9th, 1898. At this time, Key's mortal remains (along with those of his wife) were given their third, and final burial under an impressive monument that had been roughly 30 years in the making.
It was a project that involved a tremendous amount of planning and fundraising. It also utilized the talents of a young sculptor from Italy. The recent immigrant couldn't read or write English at the time of his arrival in America in the 1890s, yet would be charged with creating a lasting memorial to a man whose words, in the form of a patriotic song, would one day become our country's national anthem.
In years past, special events have been held at the Key Memorial in addition to the annual Memorial Day services by American Legion, Francis Scott Key Post #11. In 2013, and 2014 large-scale celebrations coincided with the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Fort McHenry and writing of "the Star-Spangled Banner." These included a Flag Day, 2013 event that brought Key's famous Star-Spangled manuscript to his gravesite, and, a year later in 2014, a luminary/fireworks event commemorated Key and local 1812 veterans and was followed hours earlier with a sunrise service complete with a performance of the anthem by the Frederick Chorale, and re-enactor presentations from Francis Scott Key, Abraham Lincoln and James Monroe.
This upcoming program is being planned by the Maryland State Society, National Society United States Daughters of 1812 with assistance by local Daughters of the American Revolution Chapters and the Sons of the American Revolution. Mount Olivet Historian Chris Haugh will review the events leading up to Key's re-interment in Mount Olivet, the creation of the Francis Scott Key Memorial and the dedication event of August 9th, 1898.
Light refreshments will be served after the ceremony.
125th Commemoration
Wednesday, August 9th, 2023@ 6pm
Star-Spangled Plaza
Mount Olivet Cemetery
Frederick, Maryland
Mount Olivet's iconic monument to Francis Scott Key was dedicated amidst great fanfare on August 9th, 1898. At this time, Key's mortal remains (along with those of his wife) were given their third, and final burial under an impressive monument that had been roughly 30 years in the making.
It was a project that involved a tremendous amount of planning and fundraising. It also utilized the talents of a young sculptor from Italy. The recent immigrant couldn't read or write English at the time of his arrival in America in the 1890s, yet would be charged with creating a lasting memorial to a man whose words, in the form of a patriotic song, would one day become our country's national anthem.
In years past, special events have been held at the Key Memorial in addition to the annual Memorial Day services by American Legion, Francis Scott Key Post #11. In 2013, and 2014 large-scale celebrations coincided with the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Fort McHenry and writing of "the Star-Spangled Banner." These included a Flag Day, 2013 event that brought Key's famous Star-Spangled manuscript to his gravesite, and, a year later in 2014, a luminary/fireworks event commemorated Key and local 1812 veterans and was followed hours earlier with a sunrise service complete with a performance of the anthem by the Frederick Chorale, and re-enactor presentations from Francis Scott Key, Abraham Lincoln and James Monroe.
This upcoming program is being planned by the Maryland State Society, National Society United States Daughters of 1812 with assistance by local Daughters of the American Revolution Chapters and the Sons of the American Revolution. Mount Olivet Historian Chris Haugh will review the events leading up to Key's re-interment in Mount Olivet, the creation of the Francis Scott Key Memorial and the dedication event of August 9th, 1898.
Light refreshments will be served after the ceremony.
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*We will dedicate our new brick walkway around the monument as part of our ongoing "Star-Spangled Plaza" improvements. Thanks to the Community Foundation and the Francis Scott Key Memorial Fund for helping to make this a reality.