Coast Guard cutter places Francis Scott Key buoy – video

BALTIMORE – The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter James Rankin lowered the Francis Scott Key buoy down to its location in the Patapsco River Monday.

The buoy marks the spot where the ship carrying Francis Scott Key, the author of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” was anchored during the bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812.

It has been placed in this location annually since the 1970s.

The crew of the Rankin is responsible for the annual placing of the buoy in the spring and for removing it in the fall.

Paul Plamann, a park ranger from Fort McHenry joined the crew of the Rankin to tell the story of the Battle of Baltimore.