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[drumbeats]
- FIRST, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TOGETHER HERE TODAY
TO CELEBRATE THE BEGINNING OF THE SALE OF THIS COIN.
- AT DAWN SEPTEMBER 13TH, 1814, 19 BRITISH SHIPS
BEGAN THEIR BOMBARDMENT OF FORT MCHENRY,
HOPING THE AMERICANS WOULD PANIC AND EVACUATE THE FORT.
THEY DIDN'T.
A THOUSAND PATRIOT DEFENDERS
HELD THEIR GROUND AND FIRED BACK,
RAISING A GIGANTIC FLAG IN TRIUMPH
ON THE MORNING OF FOUR-- THE 14TH,
AND THE BRITISH SAILED AWAY WITHOUT THEIR VICTORY,
A TURNING POINT IN THE WAR OF 1812.
FRANCIS SCOTT KEY PENNED HIS VISION OF THE AMERICAN FLAG
EVINCING THE DEFENSE OF FORT MCHENRY
ON THE MORNING AFTER THE BOMBARDMENT,
AND SO BECAME "THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER."
- WE-- WE NEED THESE COINS.
THESE COINS WILL GO UP IN VALUE.
THEY'RE ON SALE HERE TODAY.
WE REALLY HOPE THAT PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES
WILL BUY THESE COINS,
AND THAT'S GONNA HELP US IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
- YOU HAVE AN-- AN INCREDIBLE COMMEMORATIVE COIN
THAT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WILL WANNA HOLD
'CAUSE IT'S A PIECE OF OUR HISTORY OF OUR NATION
AND THE PRIDE THAT WE HAVE HERE IN--IN MARYLAND.
- OH, THIS IS-- THIS--THIS IS AMAZING.
UM--THE, UH, 72 MAJOR BRITISH COMBATANTS
BOMBED FORT MCHENRY FOR ALMOST 24 HOURS,
AND NO ONE SURRENDERED AND THEY HELD FAST,
AND THEY GAVE OUR COUNTRY TIME TO RESPOND.
- WE'VE GOT A BEAUTIFUL GOLD COIN AND A SILVER COIN NOW
THAT ARE GONNA GO ON SALE
AND HELP RAISE EIGHT AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
- THIS COMMEMORATIVE COIN IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART
OF WHAT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO TELL THIS STORY.
IN JUNE, WE ARE GOING TO BE KICKING OFF
THE BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
WITH THE "STAR-SPANGLED SAILABRATION."
HOW MANY OF YOU REMEMBER "OPSAIL" YEARS AGO?
WELL, THIS IS GOING TO BE "OPSAIL"
WITH A WHOLE LOT MORE SAIL AND EVEN MORE POWER
AND A LOT MORE GRAY HULLS TOO.
THE NAVY'S GOING TO BE HERE.
THE BLUE ANGELS WILL BE HERE.
TALL SHIPS FROM AROUND THE WORLD WILL BE HERE.
AND OVER THE COURSE OF THESE NEXT TWO YEARS,
IN BALTIMORE, THE ORIGINAL LAND OF THE FREE
AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE,
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE EQUIVALENT VISITORSHIP
OF HAVING THE ARMY-NAVY GAME HERE
TEN TIMES IN THE COURSE OF THE TWO-YEAR PERIOD.
THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING HERE.
THIS IS A BIG, BIG DEAL.
- COIN SALES WENT GREAT TODAY.
WE ACTUALLY RAN OUT OF GOLD COINS,
SO YOU BETTER HURRY UP NOW
AND GO TO "STARSPANGLED200.COM" TO ORDER MORE.
[drumbeats]