Washingtonians can honor the D.C. shopkeepers, printers and dock workers who marched to defend the capital from British invasion 212 years ago at a free wreath-laying ceremony Sunday, Aug. 23, at Historic Congressional Cemetery.
The District of Columbia National Guard is partnering with the cemetery to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Bladensburg, fought Aug. 24, 1814. Dozens of citizen-soldiers from the 1st and 2nd D.C. Militia Regiments who fought that day are buried on the 35-acre grounds at 1801 E St. SE in the Hill East neighborhood.
The program begins at 10 a.m. with remarks from cemetery and Guard representatives, followed by a wreath laying at the grave of Pvt. Andrew Coyle. After the formal ceremony, attendees can join a guided tour of War of 1812 veterans' gravesites and help place commemorative flags at each one.
The D.C. National Guard will also display historical artifacts inside the cemetery chapel.
The battle ended in a decisive British victory that cleared the path for troops to enter Washington and burn the Capitol and other public buildings. The militia members who stood against the advance were not professional soldiers. According to the cemetery's event listing, they were artisans, shopkeepers, printers, teamsters, dock workers, lawyers, clerks, teachers and doctors who served before, during and after the battle.
The ceremony is part of the broader America 250 commemoration marking the nation's founding era. The D.C. National Guard promoted the event on X, inviting the public to remember those who defended the capital in 1814.
Congressional Cemetery, established in 1807 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 2011, is the only American cemetery of national memory founded before the Civil War. More than 65,000 individuals are buried or memorialized there.
What to know if you go:
- When: Sunday, Aug. 23, 10 a.m.
- Where: Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E St. SE (nearest Metro: Stadium-Armory, Orange/Blue/Silver lines)
- Cost: Free; advance RSVP requested
- Note: Rain or shine. No dogs except service animals. Wear sturdy shoes for uneven ground.
The cemetery's next public event after the ceremony is an Introductory Tour on Aug. 29.
