Baltimore?s harbor will welcome home an old friend tomorrow. The USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), with rails manned in full dress, should cruise under the Francis Scott Key Bridge by dawn?s early light. Named for the national monument in Baltimore, the ship will pass historic Fort McHenry before dropping anchor at North Locust Point terminal.
Replica cannons from the War of 1812 and a salute gun will be fired by the fort?s living history unit, the Fort McHenry Guard. Amid the din and smoke of the cannons, the grand 30 foot by 40 foot “Star-Spangled Banner” flag will be raised to honor the ship and crew.
“A return salute from the ship is planned using Civil War artillery,” says Lt. Cmdr. Stephen J. Franzoni, of the Navy Office of Community Outreach.
Invited by Fort McHenry National Monument, the landing dock ship is returning to the United States from its last deployment in Sasebo, Japan, Franzoni said. The ship will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 1. A shuttle service from Fort McHenry to the ship will be provided.
USS Fort McHenry was commissioned Aug. 9, 1987, in Seattle with a ceremony sponsored by longtime port advocate Helen Delich Bentley. A decorated history followed.
Fort McHenry?s mission is to transport, launch and support landing craft and helicopters carrying U.S. Marines during amphibious operations. Fort McHenry can carry a Marine landing force with up to 34 officers, and 470 enlisted men. Its mission is accomplished through the use of a well deck that is flooded to embark assault craft. The warship is commandeered by Cmdr. Mark H. Scovill, who overseas a crew of 350 seaman.
A longtime export analyst and consultant, Joseph R. Hughes? maritime-related articles have appeared in numerous publications. He is a native Baltimorean. E-mail your questions to him at [email protected].
