On a beautiful sunny day, with a bright blue sky serving as the backdrop, the Francis Scott Key Memorial Buoy was placed into service for the season on June 8.

Invited guests and members of the media witnessed the ceremony held on board the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter James Rankin, the buoy tender for the Chesapeake Bay.

The Key buoy was the brainchild of the late Ben Womer, who served for many years as president of the Dundalk-Patapsco Neck Historical Society.

Womer's daughter, Gloria Thorne, brother Doug Womer and other relatives were guests at the ceremony.

The buoy marks the approximate spot where Key in September 1814 penned the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner" while being held captive by the British during the War of 1812.

Traveling across the Key Bridge from Dundalk toward Glen Burnie, the buoy is visible over the right side of the span.