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Traveling exhibit gives Marylanders a taste of history

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”2127″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1500647267164{margin: 0px !important;border-width: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;}”]By Staff Sgt. Michael E. Davis Jr., Maryland National Guard Public Affairs Office[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn”]“When freemen shall stand,” is the title and theme of a new traveling exhibit of the War of 1812 that stands tall on display, for the month of August, at the Kent County Public Library to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the
Star-Spangled Banner.

The Maryland Military Historical Society (MDMHS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, is using the fourth verse of Francis Scott Key’s poem to explain the personal experience of real people-great leaders and common Soldiers of both sides-who participated in the events.

“We believe the title captures most clearly the spirit of the militia,” said retired Lt. Col. Kerry M. McIntyre, a board member in the MDMHS and project manager for the War of 1812 traveling exhibit. “It moves beyond the specific time and place, and speaks more broadly to the idea that people, working together, can achieve great things. To us, it also serves as a reminder that each of us bears some responsibility to work together for the preservation and defense of the things we cherish most.”

McIntyre said the intent of the traveling exhibit is to educate and inform Marylanders of their history. The traveling exhibit was made possible because $150,000 was raised in grants last year.

“We can bring the exhibit to the people,” exclaimed McIntyre, elaborating on making the exhibit available for Marylanders.

Another exhibit was installed at a public library in the city of Odenton as well, and a third one will be placed at the Glenn L. Martin State Airport Aviation Museum in September.

The traveling exhibits include two fabric-on-frame 4-panel display towers; each panel contains a wealth of historical information, using images and written content, conveying the major themes and stories of the fixed museum exhibit.

The traveling exhibit will soon be a portion of what you can experience at the Maryland Museum of Military History at the Fifth Regiment Armory as part of a grand opening on Sept. 3 from 6-8 p.m.

The traveling exhibit is just part of the major new exhibit within the museum that is near completion. The new exhibit will celebrate and interpret the role of Maryland’s militia forces in the War of 1812.

The project coincides with the bicentennial of the Battle of Baltimore in September 2014, bringing added public interest and emphasis to the exhibit. However, the exhibit will be a permanent addition to the museum.

The development includes fixed museum displays, a counterpart digital display within the museum’s webpage, and a traveling display that will bring the themes and stories of the museum exhibit to audiences across the state.

The project also includes a significant education support plan in keeping with the MDMHS’ role as an institution dedicated to educating the public about Maryland’s military heritage.

The project will exceed $250,000 in total value when completed through a combination of grants and volunteer service.

The Baltimore National Heritage Area, the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission, the 5th Regiment Veterans’ Corps, and the National Guard Association of Maryland have contributed this project.

The MDMHS main goals are to preserve the history, heritage, and memory of Maryland’s organized militia.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]