Heart of the Civil War

Box Lunch Talk: "Growing into Greatness" Big Tree Documentary presented by Dr. Robert Lemieux
2025-11-18 12:00 UTC | Grace Lutheran Church, 21 Carroll Street, Westminster, MD, 21157, United States
Within Maryland’s 2.5 million acres of forest there are 12 national champion trees. Dr. Robert Lemieux, Associate Professor of Communication and Cinema at McDaniel College, is creating a documentary featuring six of these trees. He will share his work on these inspiring grand champions. As always, there is no registration for Box Lunch Talks. You bring your lunch, and we provide the drinks and desserts (thanks to our volunteers and staff). The cost is $3 for HSCC members and $5 for nonmembers.

Carroll 250 Speaker Series: Francis Scott Key presented by Lou Giles
2025-11-18 18:30 | Exploration Commons, Westminster Branch of Carroll County Public Library, 50 East Main Street, Westminster, MD, 21157, United States
This fascinating talk will focus on Francis Scott Key and will include his family and early years, the War of 1812 and the Dr. Beanes rescue mission, the Star-Spangled Banner, religion, politics (and major cases), and his views on slavery. *Registration is required for this event. Please register at the CCPL link below.
Mr. Giles retired in 2012 as a senior executive in the Defense Department. He presently serves as the President of the Society of the War of 1812 in the State of Maryland, a patriotic organization limited to descendants of soldiers who fought in the War of 1812, and is a member of the Boards of Directors and counsel to the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House in Baltimore. Mr. Giles also volunteers at the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis and as a docent at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore.
As a passionate amateur historian and genealogist interested in the War of 1812 in Maryland, Mr. Giles enjoys delving into primary sources, local archives, and historical newspapers to uncover new findings and perspectives and sharing these findings through writing, presentations, and community engagement.
Mr. Giles first became interested in Francis Scott Key in 2014 when he was tasked with providing presentations on Key to visitors to Fort McHenry. His genealogy experience and knowledge of resources available at the Maryland State Archives and National Archives allowed him to uncover records on Francis Scott Key that provide a different perspective from most biographers of Key. He has published several articles on Key, including identifying Key’s truce ship on which he authored the Star-Spangled Banner and Key’s views on slavery.
He was recently featured in local and national press reporting after winning an appeal against the Veterans Administration resulting in a ruling allowing enslaved black Americans who fought in early Wars of the United States as servants or waiters to be considered veterans. Mr. Giles is a lifelong Maryland resident who holds degrees in physics, electrical engineering, and law.
