BALTIMORE — Vice President Joe Biden will join Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley for Star-Spangled Spectacular: the 200th Anniversary of our National Anthem at the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine on September 13, 2014.
The Vice President’s remarks will be delivered at 9:30 p.m. and will be broadcast live on PBS. Following the Vice President’s remarks, platinum recording artist and actress Jordin Sparks will lead the nation in singing the National Anthem to the backdrop of an extraordinary fireworks display that will stretch from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor to Fort McHenry.
“The nation’s eyes will be on Baltimore on the Spectacular evening of September 13 – 200 years to the day our City and State endured one of the most violent attacks in our nation’s history and prevailed over the strongest military in the world,” said Governor O’Malley. “We look forward to welcoming Vice President Biden to Baltimore to celebrate this historic national event.”
The two-hour live broadcast will include performances from two concert stages. The Fort McHenry stage will include the U.S. Marine Band (“the President’s Own”) and the Morgan State University Choir. The ticketed concert at Pier Six will be hosted by John Lithgow and co-hosted by Jordin Sparks and feature performances from Kristin Chenoweth, Smokey Rogers, Melissa Etheridge and others.
Saturday night’s events in Baltimore are highlights of Star-Spangled Spectacular, a free festival that will take place September 10-16, 2014 at the Baltimore Harbor, Fort McHenry, Martin State Airport and beyond.