Remembering Our History

                The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday is the simple fact that we must accurately remember the past in order to learn from it.

Time and experience have shown that life repeats its lessons until we learn them.  If we learn from them quickly, the lesson does not have to be repeated.  A college football team discovered a way to help us remember an important event in the history of the United States of America.

                The University of Maryland unveiled special new uniforms with a “semi-hidden message on the jerseys and helmets.”  Patriots and historians will appreciate their efforts.  The Terrapin football team will take the field on September 13 in “historically inspired uniforms” in honor of the 200^th anniversary of the Battle of Baltimore at Fort McHenry and the writing of the Star Spangled Banner.

                The uniform is red, white and blue with both the helmet and the jersey carrying the theme.  The helmet has a special emblem, and the helmet and jersey have the hand-written text of Francis Scott Key’s poem “Defence of Fort McHenry” – which became the Star-Spangled Banner.

                The press release stated:  “This weekend, the Terrapin football team will take the field in a historically inspired uniform that pays homage to the 200^th anniversary of the Battle of Baltimore at Fort McHenry and the Star Spangled Banner.”

                The Blaze reported:   “Maryland’s helmets will feature an outline of the star-shaped Fort McHenry and an image of the flag that flew through the night during the Battle of Baltimore.  According to the school release, the 15-star and 15-stripe flag is the only flag in American history in which the blue field is touching a red stripe.  The uniforms highlight this detail with red and blue stripes on the helmet, shoulders, pant legs and socks.

                “Maryland captains will wear red belts as American military captains did during the Battle of Baltimore, and players’ names will be replaced by the word “TRIUMPH” on the back of their jerseys.  The team’s base layers will include the phrase `Conquer We Must,’ which was included in Key’s “Defence of Fort McHenry,’ but left out of `The Star-Spangled Banner.’” 

                The Blaze article includes a slideshow of the uniform.  This football uniform will certainly help Americans to remember the Battle of Baltimore and the writing of what became our national anthem.  I like it!