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Article: Francis Scott Key Stirs Protest; Slave Owner Opposed as Symbol of His Home County's 250th Birthday
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- October 31, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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A star-spangled dispute is simmering over whether Francis
Scott Key, Frederick County's most famous son, is an appropriate
symbol for the county's 250th birthday.
Sure, he was born and buried here and, yes, he wrote the
national anthem. But the man who proclaimed America "the land of the
free" was a slave owner who spent only a few of his adult years in
Frederick County, facts that have prompted some to criticize the
choice.
"He's one white man who did nothing to build this community,"
said Sandra West, a certified public accountant who wants a "gender-
and race-neutral" logo for the 1998 celebration.
An image of the Key statue that stands atop the poet-lawyer's
grave in ...