Don't Mess with the USA

We got an early start on our 312 mile drive today.  We left Maryland, passed through Pennsylvania and arrived at Mill Creek COE Campground in Ohio early this afternoon.  We have a site looking out over a wind blown lake.

We knew we would be passing through thunder storms today at some point.  About 200 miles into our drive we saw the lightening up ahead.  At one point we had everything around us light up followed immediately by a thunder clap that raised us both out of our seats.  Eva did not like it one bit, neither did I.

We're not sure if we will stay here for one or two days, we'll see.  We can be in Flint, Michigan in one more full days drive (5 hours).  If the weather turns nice again we'll just settle back and enjoy some Summer in a lawn chair.

The Stars Spangled Banner flies over Fort McHenry.

OK, a little short history lesson for those of us who weren't paying attention when we went to school.

The British were really ticked off with the USA.  It was 1814, we were independent from them and they weren't that happy with us.  We were supporting the privateers (pirates) that were wreaking havoc on the British Navy and maritime trade.  The British were kicking our butts and had just burned Washington DC to the ground, the Senate and House had to meet in the only standing building which was the Post Office.

All the privateers had sailed to Baltimore and were anchored safely there.  It was time for the British to kick some Baltimore butt.  They sailed into the harbor and launched a ground and naval attack.

While all this was happening they were holding Francis Scott Key captive in the harbor on his American ship.  He watched the day battle go into the night.  By mornings light he waited for the smoke and dusk to settle.  He looked and saw "Old Glory" still flying over Fort McHenry.

We had kicked some British butt.  So Francis Scott Key sat down and wrote the words that later would become our National Anthem.

That's my short version of history in 4 paragraphs.

Grandson Billy sits next to one of the cannons
 the British won't soon forget.

Billy says,
"Don't mess with me or I will lob one of these into your ship."

It was good to visit this place with my son, Air Force Master Sargent Matt Ranger.  He still has a strong commitment to defending our country.  He might not shoot a big cannon but his computer hacking for the NSA will mess with the bad guys.  It could even save some lives here at home.

Life is good, when Matt is watching out for us all.