Naval ships highlight Boston's maritime heritage BOSTON (AP) --
Thousands of sailors aboard at least 18 naval ships from around
the world are gathering in Boston to mark the 200th anniversary
of the War of 1812 and the Star-Spangled Banner. The
celebrations coincide with this year's Boston Harborfest, a
Fourth of July festival showcasing the city's maritime and
colonial heritage. The War of 1812 marked the first time that
the new United States was threatened on its own soil. The
conflict inspired Francis Scott Key to write the first edition
of "The Star-Spangled Banner" in Baltimore, Md. The fleet of
naval ships converging in Boston is part of Operation Sail, or
OpSail 2012, and includes sailors and Marines from the United
States, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Indonesia, Germany, Norway,
Denmark, Canada and England. The vessels bring at least 10,000
extra sailors to the city.