Ribbon cutting ceremonies for new buildings are commonplace, but the dedication of a new visitor center for Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore on March 3, 2011, included plenty of unique touches. Among them was a customized bakery creation that proved you can have your cake and shoot it too.

Given the history of the fort, it's appropriate that the event included deep drum rolls and cannon fire that could be heard a mile away, and when organizers decided to include music by a local choir, the choice of a song seemed pretty obvious. This performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by the City College Choir occurred on the 80th anniversary of the formal adoption of the composition as country's official national anthem.

The most unique element of the event was a huge cake, created by Charm City Cakes, famous for the television program “Ace of Cakes.” Shaped like an artillery piece, this was more than just a fancy snack....