Sunset Crysler Farm
The end of a hot day!
Saturday, 9 January 2016
Wednesday, 14 January 2015
Friday, 25 July 2014
200th anniversary of the Battle of Lundy's Lane
JULY 25TH, 2014 – THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF LUNDY’S LANE
Today marks one of the biggest days in history for Niagara Falls – the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Lundy’s Lane. Echoing the footsteps of soldiers from 200 years ago, participants will follow the path that these soldiers took along Portage Road on that fateful day, July 25th, 1814.
The Lundy’s Lane Historical Society will be holding a commemorative service on the battlefield commencing at 7:30 p.m. Following this service, there will be a candle light vigil up to the Lundy’s Lane Memorial. Attendees of this event are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair. Following this, the participants in the walk will invade the battlefield.
With starting points under 2 km (1.5 miles) from the battlefield, participants will walk through the streets and converge on the Battlefield at dusk, following the old portage road like the combatants on that horrendous night 200 years ago. Company Theatre will provide an immersive performance where all the action took place 200 years ago. Participants who register will get a red or a blue commemorative shirt which will determine their starting point in this walk. This commemorative walk represents the 5000 plus soldiers who met in the battlefield.
The event will take place on the former Battlefield School field – access via Drummond Hill Cemetery and Lundy’s Lane
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Niagara Falls History Museum – Free Admission – open 10:00 am – 5:00pm, 5810 Ferry StreetVisit the Gale Family War of 1812 Gallery, the Niagara Falls Community Gallery, Motel Culture of Niagara .1812 Author, Richard Feltoe will be there with 1812 demonstrations and his new book about the Battle of Lundy’s Lane “Crucible of Fire”
Lundy’s Lane Gateway Unveiling – 1:00pm, 6151 Lundy’s Lane
Be present for the official opening of the new landmark that will showcase the National Historic Site of Lundy’s Lane
Be present for the official opening of the new landmark that will showcase the National Historic Site of Lundy’s Lane
Battle Ground Hotel Museum – Free Admission – 10:00 am – 5:00pm, 6151 Lundy’s LaneTour the1850s Tavern and explore battlefield tourism, led by costumed interpreters
Lundy’s Lane Historical Society Commemorative Service – 7:30pm, Lundy’s Lane Battlefield
Bring your lawn chair or a blanket. Featuring a Military band, choir and much more.
Music by the Jay Singers under the direction of Dianne Williams.
Historical context provided by Sherman Zavitz.
Event will be concluded with the laying of wreaths and a candlelight walk to the Lundy’s Lane Monument.
The music will begin at 7:00 p.m. welcoming you to the battlefield.
Bring your lawn chair or a blanket. Featuring a Military band, choir and much more.
Music by the Jay Singers under the direction of Dianne Williams.
Historical context provided by Sherman Zavitz.
Event will be concluded with the laying of wreaths and a candlelight walk to the Lundy’s Lane Monument.
The music will begin at 7:00 p.m. welcoming you to the battlefield.
Participants Walk – 8:30pm – Throughout the City
Be a part of the event as you invade the battlefield and see installations and performance art along the way
brought to you by the Arts and Culture Committee.
Be a part of the event as you invade the battlefield and see installations and performance art along the way
brought to you by the Arts and Culture Committee.
Performance on the Battlefield – 9:15pm – Lundy’s Lane Battlefield
Be transformed back to the events of July 25, 1814 as next Company Theatre put you in the middle of the action.
Be transformed back to the events of July 25, 1814 as next Company Theatre put you in the middle of the action.
Be sure to follow @nfmuseums and @discover1812 during the event to get real time feeds, photos and more.
Please post your pictures of the event as well #lundyslane200
Please post your pictures of the event as well #lundyslane200
Monday, 14 July 2014
Friday, 29 November 2013
Reenactment and commemoration - British Attack on Fort Niagara
Old Fort Niagara, Youngstown will mark bicentennial of British attack
by jmaloniSubmitted
Fri, Nov 29th 2013 07:00 am
On the cold, snowy morning of Dec. 19, 1813, Fort Niagara and the tiny settlement of Youngstown received a visit from some unwelcome guests: 562 British soldiers and Native allies bent on capturing the fort and revenging the destruction of Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake) that had occurred just nine days prior. The force crossed the Niagara River near the present site of Stella Niagara and, by 4 a.m., began their march north along the portage road.
Reaching the fort at 5 a.m. the Redcoats surprised the sleeping garrison and forced their way through the fort's defenses. In a brief but bloody battle, the British captured the fort, killing 65 of the American defenders. With the fort secure, British forces proceeded to destroy settlements in the area, including Youngstown, Lewiston and Wilson. Those fortunate enough to escape fled toward Batavia. A newspaper of the era reported the roads were filled with refugees "reduced to the last degree of want and sorrow."
To commemorate the 200th anniversary of these dramatic events, Old Fort Niagara and the Village of Youngstown have joined forces to stage a series of re-enactments and educational programs on the exact anniversary of the attack. Re-enactors portraying British soldiers will charge the gates of the fort at 5 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, just as they did 200 years ago. Spectators will be able to watch the assault from a safe area, but they must arrive at the fort between 4:30 and 4:45 a.m. to be admitted. The re-enactment will be followed by a brief memorial ceremony. Admission is free.
At 7:15 a.m., events will move to Falkner Park in Youngstown where re-enactors will light ceremonial flares and fire musket volleys as part of a brief public ceremony commemorating the burning of the village. This will be followed at 8:15 a.m. by two historical programs at St. John's Episcopal Church on Main Street. The Niagara County Historical Society will present a PowerPoint lecture on the War of 1812 followed by a screening of "Niagara on Fire," a video produced by the Niagara-on-the-Lake War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee. The video chronicles the Dec. 10 burning of Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake) by American forces.
Youngstown's restaurants will be open at 6 a.m. to offer a hot breakfast to the hardy attendees.
At 9:30 a.m., about 650 students from Lewiston-Porter, Wilson, Stella Niagara and Tuscarora Elementary will arrive at Fort Niagara for a special school program illustrating the 1813 capture of the fort. Interpreters in period uniform will describe how the fort was captured and demonstrate the weapons and tactics employed in the attack. By 11 a.m., the students will be bussed to four learning centers in the Village of Youngstown, where they will experience everyday life in the 1812 era and learn about such topics as Fort Niagara's 1812 flag, 1812 lifestyles, music, writing, maps, surveys and military life. The students' field trip will conclude with a screening of "Niagara on Fire" presented by the Niagara-on-the Lake War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee.
Student programs will take place at the Youngstown Village Center (Red Brick School House), St. John's Episcopal Church, The First Presbyterian Church and St. Bernard's R.C. Church.
The event is underwritten by the Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council through the Niagara River Greenway Commission and the Niagara County Host Community agreement. Other supporters include the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area and the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission.
The event has been in the planning stages since January and involves about 150 volunteers.
Niagara Frontier Publications
1859 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island, NY 14072 • Phone: 716-773-7676 Fax: 716-773-7190
Friday, 15 November 2013
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Monday, 15 July 2013
Wednesday, 10 July 2013
Wednesday, 12 September 2012
U.S. Brig Niagara to visit Canalside
BUFFALO RISING
U.S. Brig Niagara to visit Canalside
Navy week is upon us here in Buffalo, and the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation and Buffalo Place, Inc. will be welcoming the U.S. Brig Niagara to Canalside as part of the naval celebration and to also commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812.
The Brig Niagara is a reproduction of the relief flagship of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry that was part of a fleet of nine small ships that defeated a British squadron of six in the Battle of Lake Erie on Sept. 10, 1813. This 198-foot long vessel was launched in 1988 and finished in 1990. The ship still has original timbers that were recovered from the 1913 and 1933 reconstructions and also carries four 32-pounder carronades that are fired during day sails and in demonstrations. Eighteen professional merchant mariners and as many as 30 crewmembers and trainees sail on this vessel.
The ship will arrive at Canalside at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, September 12 and will host public tours and sails during its visit. Tickets for public tours can be purchased dockside at $6 per adult and $4 per child under age 12. Admission for children age four and under is free. There will also be two opportunities to take a public day sail on Sept. 17, where participants can get a feel for what life was like aboard a historical two-masted, square-rigged ship. Tickets for the educational day sails are $85 per person and can be purchased on the Brig Niagara website.
"We are thrilled to welcome the U.S. Brig Niagara, her captain and crew to Canalside," said ECHDC Interim Chairman Sam Hoyt. "Having the Niagara tied to our Central Wharf, in conjunction with Buffalo's celebration of Navy Week and as a continuation of the War of 1812 bicentennial events, builds upon Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation's emphasis on public accessibility to the waterfront and exciting things to do."
The schedule for tours and public day sails is as follows:
Thursday, Sept. 13: Public Tours from 2:30 to 6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 14: Public Tours from 2:30 to 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 15: Public Tours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 16: Public Tours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 17: Public day sails from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 to 7:30 p.m.
Monday, 23 July 2012
2nd Lincoln Gun Crews in the news
Re-enactors stage the War of 1812, one battle at a time
Jul 23, 2012 – 11:33 AM ET
John Sek
A re-enactment at Chrysler Farm in 2011.
When he’s not working as a road and bridge inspection engineer, John Sek of Fort Erie, Ont., is a proud gunner in the 2nd Lincoln Artillery Unit.
Sek is one of the enthusiastic “re-enactors” playing his part in the War of 1812 bicentennial in staged recreations of the war’s battles. The unit’s volunteer members dress in uniforms much like those worn by the actual 2nd Lincoln Artillery during the war, and carry historically accurate weapons and full military kit.
Parks Canada and local authorities are staging these re-enactments through 2013 as part of the bicentennial celebrations. Sek has taken part in three to date — the Battles of Ogdensburg, Longwood and Frenchman’s Creek — and plans to take part in another eight battles over the next year. He would be doing still more, he says, but he has other responsibilities as a member of the Fort Erie 1812 bicentennial committee.
Sek says his passion for these recreations is fuelled by his love for Canadian history and a desire to make other Canadians aware of it.
“People don’t realize that the War of 1812 made us,” Sek says. “We successfully resisted an invasion meant to make us part of the United States. We won.” He’s keen to make the average person more aware of his or her heritage. The re-enactments “make the past real. They bring history – our history – to life.”
According to Peter MacLeod, curator of the Canadian War Museum’s 1812 exhibition in Ottawa, the War of 1812 was one of three wars in the period that shaped Canada’s destiny. “The first was the Seven Years War, which brought Canada into the British Empire. The second was the American Revolution, which divided British America between the colonies that formed the United States and those that would later form the Dominion of Canada. The third was the War of 1812, which confirmed Canada’s survival as a separate entity.”
Hundreds of re-enactors from both sides of the border have been bringing the War of 1812 to life in recent weeks. Still to come are the siege of Fort Erie on Aug. 11-12, the storming of Fort Niagara on Sept. 1-2, and the Battle of Queenston Heights on Oct. 13.
The battle for the American Fort Erie was one of the longest and bloodiest of the conflict: more than 500 were killed and more than 1,000 wounded. The Americans held the fort, but later abandoned it due to a lack of supplies. The battle for Fort Niagara began after American troops burned Niagara-on-the-Lake and nearby Fort George in 1813. British troops retaliated by storming Fort Niagara and subsequently burning Buffalo, N.Y.
Queenston Heights, Ont., was the site of the first major battle between American invaders and British troops, their native allies and Canadian militiamen. The battle was won by the British but witnessed the death of their able commander, Sir Isaac Brock.
Major re-enactments will continue in 2013: the first will commemorate the Battle of Fort George on May 25-27, “featuring hundreds of re-enactors and several tall ships,” says Ron Dale, Parks Canada’s War of 1812 bicentennial manager. “This will be followed the next weekend by the large scale re-enactment of the Battle of Stoney Creek.” Fort George was a British fort overrun by the Americans in 1813. Stoney Creek was where the British and their allies held back the Americans who subsequently advanced into Upper Canadian territory. The pivotal Battle of Crysler’s Farm, which resulted in American troops heading for Montreal being driven back across the border, will be re-created on June 13-14, 2013.
Dale says the re-enactors massing to play their part in these events are a real asset.
“These are people who go to a great deal of effort to present historically accurate costumes, muskets and cannon,” Dale says. “As a result, re-enactors help us translate the past for the public.” And, he points out, they do it at minimal risk: they are firing blanks from those accurate weapons. But the staged battles still present a powerful image of an era when war was personal and brutal, medical help primitive, and the odds of dying in battle or later of wounds or disease were very high.
MacLeod is pleased to see so many people signing up to play battlefield roles for the bicentennial. “Ask any historian if Canadians should know more about their history, and the answer you’ll get is an unqualified yes,” he says. “Re-enactors contribute to raising awareness of Canada’s military past and generating interest in our history, including the War of 1812.”
Sek is one of the enthusiastic “re-enactors” playing his part in the War of 1812 bicentennial in staged recreations of the war’s battles. The unit’s volunteer members dress in uniforms much like those worn by the actual 2nd Lincoln Artillery during the war, and carry historically accurate weapons and full military kit.
Parks Canada and local authorities are staging these re-enactments through 2013 as part of the bicentennial celebrations. Sek has taken part in three to date — the Battles of Ogdensburg, Longwood and Frenchman’s Creek — and plans to take part in another eight battles over the next year. He would be doing still more, he says, but he has other responsibilities as a member of the Fort Erie 1812 bicentennial committee.
Sek says his passion for these recreations is fuelled by his love for Canadian history and a desire to make other Canadians aware of it.
“People don’t realize that the War of 1812 made us,” Sek says. “We successfully resisted an invasion meant to make us part of the United States. We won.” He’s keen to make the average person more aware of his or her heritage. The re-enactments “make the past real. They bring history – our history – to life.”
According to Peter MacLeod, curator of the Canadian War Museum’s 1812 exhibition in Ottawa, the War of 1812 was one of three wars in the period that shaped Canada’s destiny. “The first was the Seven Years War, which brought Canada into the British Empire. The second was the American Revolution, which divided British America between the colonies that formed the United States and those that would later form the Dominion of Canada. The third was the War of 1812, which confirmed Canada’s survival as a separate entity.”
Hundreds of re-enactors from both sides of the border have been bringing the War of 1812 to life in recent weeks. Still to come are the siege of Fort Erie on Aug. 11-12, the storming of Fort Niagara on Sept. 1-2, and the Battle of Queenston Heights on Oct. 13.
The battle for the American Fort Erie was one of the longest and bloodiest of the conflict: more than 500 were killed and more than 1,000 wounded. The Americans held the fort, but later abandoned it due to a lack of supplies. The battle for Fort Niagara began after American troops burned Niagara-on-the-Lake and nearby Fort George in 1813. British troops retaliated by storming Fort Niagara and subsequently burning Buffalo, N.Y.
Queenston Heights, Ont., was the site of the first major battle between American invaders and British troops, their native allies and Canadian militiamen. The battle was won by the British but witnessed the death of their able commander, Sir Isaac Brock.
Major re-enactments will continue in 2013: the first will commemorate the Battle of Fort George on May 25-27, “featuring hundreds of re-enactors and several tall ships,” says Ron Dale, Parks Canada’s War of 1812 bicentennial manager. “This will be followed the next weekend by the large scale re-enactment of the Battle of Stoney Creek.” Fort George was a British fort overrun by the Americans in 1813. Stoney Creek was where the British and their allies held back the Americans who subsequently advanced into Upper Canadian territory. The pivotal Battle of Crysler’s Farm, which resulted in American troops heading for Montreal being driven back across the border, will be re-created on June 13-14, 2013.
Dale says the re-enactors massing to play their part in these events are a real asset.
“These are people who go to a great deal of effort to present historically accurate costumes, muskets and cannon,” Dale says. “As a result, re-enactors help us translate the past for the public.” And, he points out, they do it at minimal risk: they are firing blanks from those accurate weapons. But the staged battles still present a powerful image of an era when war was personal and brutal, medical help primitive, and the odds of dying in battle or later of wounds or disease were very high.
MacLeod is pleased to see so many people signing up to play battlefield roles for the bicentennial. “Ask any historian if Canadians should know more about their history, and the answer you’ll get is an unqualified yes,” he says. “Re-enactors contribute to raising awareness of Canada’s military past and generating interest in our history, including the War of 1812.”
Monday, 16 July 2012
U.S. Brig Niagara
An upcoming Navy Week event next month in Toledo will have dual purposes: to celebrate the bicentennial of the War of 1812 and to inform Toledoans about the Navy and what it does, a top naval officer said during a news conference today.
“This is special this year, because it is a commemoration of an event that is special in our heritage,” Rear Adm. Gregory Nosal, commander of Carrier Strike Group Two based in Norfolk, Va., said in Promenade Park before touring docks and facilities to be used when a flotilla of vessels calls on Toledo from Aug. 23 through Aug. 26.
The War of 1812 is generally under-taught in American history classes, the admiral said, and was a key point in history when the United States established itself as a strong and prosperous nation. The Battle of Lake Erie was pivotal to its outcome and represented “a rebirth of the United States Navy,” he said.
Toledo is one of six Great Lakes cities that will host a Navy Week this year. Visiting Toledo will be the U.S.S. DeWert, the U.S.S. Hurricane, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mobile Bay, the historic U.S. Brig Niagara, and the Royal Canadian Navy HMCS Ville de Quebec.
Events will be held throughout Toledo to mark the occasion, starting Aug. 20, three days before the ships’ ceremonial procession into Toledo Harbor on the 23rd.
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Monday, 19 March 2012
1812 Symposium Remembers Fashion and Highlights Service | Oswego County Today
1812 Symposium Remembers Fashion and Highlights Service | Oswego County Today: 1812 Symposium Remembers Fashion and Highlights Service
Thursday, 8 March 2012
The village of Bath invites you to party like it's 1812 - in period costume
Click to Enlarge
EMC News - So, you're giddy with anticipation for this summer's War of 1812 bicentennial celebrations and are looking forward to getting right into the spirit of things. Still, the question remains: whatever will you wear to the big event?
Hollie Pratt-Campbell, Kingston EMC
Diane Nolting (Left) and Gail Heywood show off some 1812-era fashions.
Thankfully, help has arrived. A special 1812 period dress workshop, put on by experts from the St. Lawrence 1812 Bicentennial Alliance, will be held in Bath Saturday from 2 - 4 p.m. at the village's fire hall.
Reenactors and dressmakers Mardi MacFarlane, Sharon Miller and Alicia Wanless will educate those in attendance on how both men and women can accurately recreate the fashions of the Regency era in Upper Canada. They will focus not only on how to create costumes from scratch, but also on how to piece together outfits from consignment finds and find appropriate costumes to rent. Topics such as historic fabrics, clothing components and patterns will be covered.
"We're hoping many people in the village and area will get dressed up, just to get into the fun of things and the spirit of (the celebration)," says Gail Heywood, co-chair of Bath's Canada Day Committee, the organization which is sponsoring the workshop.
Bath's 1812 bicentennial celebration will take place June 29 - July 1, and include everything from historical displays to an elaborate reenactment of the naval battle "the Flight of the Royal George." Reenactor camps will be set up in the park behind the local school and on the grounds of the historic Fairfield-Gutzeit House, giving visitors the opportunity to tour tents highlighting various trades from the era.
"You have to close your eyes and imagine what it's going to be like in Bath," says committee member Diane Nolting, explaining that with all the historical displays and reenactors in town, the village is going to look like it's literally been transported back in time.
"There will be 600-800 reenactors here, and they will all be dressed in either uniforms or period costume. And we're expecting 20-30 thousand people will come for that weekend, so there's going to be a whole sea of people here."
Heywood and Nolting point out that even on a regular day, Bath is an ideal destination for history buffs, as it features, among other things, the famous Fairfield-Gutzeit House, which dates back to 1796, as well as Hawley House, the oldest surviving wooden structure in Ontario.
"And there are quite a number of heritage homes in this area that date back to that period," says Nolting. "These are all part of Bath's legacy. People who enjoy history and who are perhaps descendants of United Empire Loyalists (who founded the village after the American Revolution) will come here and take part in the (bicentennial) celebrations."
"This is really the reviving and the reliving of the history of this area," Heywood notes.
Thus the ladies encourage everyone to come take part in this weekend's workshop, so that they too can feel a part of these unprecedented historical festivities. The cost is $5 per person. To register, please contact Heywood at 613-352-5071.
Monday, 27 February 2012
Guelph symposium
Time is now to honour 1812 heroes, Guelph symposium hears
GUELPH – The federal government refuses to properly acknowledge the service of soldiers who played a critical role in the formation of Canada as we know it, attendees at a Guelph symposium heard Saturday.
“There are Canadians who fought to protect this country and they have not been recognized,” said retired lieutenant-colonel Jeff Cairns, who chairs the Honour Our 1812 Heroes committee.
Cairns spoke on the issue of Canada’s failure to bestow battle honours on modern military units which “perpetuate” units that fought in the War 0f 1812.
The War of 1812 Bicentennial Symposium was held this weekend at the University of Guelph.
A byproduct of the Napoleonic Wars raging in Europe at the beginning of the 19th Century, war was declared against the British by US President James Madison in June, 1812.
The Americans planned to take over the British colonies of Upper and Lower Canada – largely encompassing current-day Ontario and Quebec, respectively – in a single mass attack.
However Canadian, British and Aboriginal troops fighting together managed to repel the invasion and remain independent of the United States.
“That’s like motherhood, maple syrup, six-team NHL and Don Cherry in one,” historian and author Donald Graves said of the united effort. “It doesn’t get much more Canadian than that.”
Graves, who has spent nearly 40 years researching the War of 1812, said Britain and the United States both have battle honours recognizing the war, but Canada has always refused to award them.
“It is sad that Canada refuses to honour the service of these brave men,” Graves said.
A press release earlier this month from the Department of National Defence noted a number of initiatives to mark the bicentennial, but was silent on the issue of bestowing battle honours.
“The War of 1812 represents a key milestone in our nation’s history, and I am proud of our government’s efforts to raise awareness and to create an enhanced understanding of Canadian military history,” Defence Minister Peter MacKay said in the release.
Robert Henderson, creator of the website Warof1812.ca, said while the government has talked about other official types of recognition – including commemorative pins to be worn by all Forces members – only battle honours can be included on regiments’ official colours.
“We’re talking about a vehicle to permanently embed the War of 1812 … and the only suitable vehicle to do that is with battle honours,” Henderson said.
Graves said the decision by the Department of National Defence not to formally recognize the War of 1812 seems to relate to a decision made decades ago that the Canadian Armed Forces began with the Militia Act of 1855.
“I honestly believe they forget why they made that decision,” he said in an interview after the presentation, “but bureaucracy is always willing to fight to defend a bad decision.”
Cairns said with the official bicentennial of the start of the war just a few months away, this is the best opportunity yet to try to win official recognition.
“What other opportunity has there been or will there ever be to try to achieve what we’re doing?” he posed. “The War of 1812 is the foundation stone that leads to Confederation that leads to the country we are today.”
stracey@guelphmercury.com
“There are Canadians who fought to protect this country and they have not been recognized,” said retired lieutenant-colonel Jeff Cairns, who chairs the Honour Our 1812 Heroes committee.
Cairns spoke on the issue of Canada’s failure to bestow battle honours on modern military units which “perpetuate” units that fought in the War 0f 1812.
The War of 1812 Bicentennial Symposium was held this weekend at the University of Guelph.
A byproduct of the Napoleonic Wars raging in Europe at the beginning of the 19th Century, war was declared against the British by US President James Madison in June, 1812.
The Americans planned to take over the British colonies of Upper and Lower Canada – largely encompassing current-day Ontario and Quebec, respectively – in a single mass attack.
However Canadian, British and Aboriginal troops fighting together managed to repel the invasion and remain independent of the United States.
“That’s like motherhood, maple syrup, six-team NHL and Don Cherry in one,” historian and author Donald Graves said of the united effort. “It doesn’t get much more Canadian than that.”
Graves, who has spent nearly 40 years researching the War of 1812, said Britain and the United States both have battle honours recognizing the war, but Canada has always refused to award them.
“It is sad that Canada refuses to honour the service of these brave men,” Graves said.
A press release earlier this month from the Department of National Defence noted a number of initiatives to mark the bicentennial, but was silent on the issue of bestowing battle honours.
“The War of 1812 represents a key milestone in our nation’s history, and I am proud of our government’s efforts to raise awareness and to create an enhanced understanding of Canadian military history,” Defence Minister Peter MacKay said in the release.
Robert Henderson, creator of the website Warof1812.ca, said while the government has talked about other official types of recognition – including commemorative pins to be worn by all Forces members – only battle honours can be included on regiments’ official colours.
“We’re talking about a vehicle to permanently embed the War of 1812 … and the only suitable vehicle to do that is with battle honours,” Henderson said.
Graves said the decision by the Department of National Defence not to formally recognize the War of 1812 seems to relate to a decision made decades ago that the Canadian Armed Forces began with the Militia Act of 1855.
“I honestly believe they forget why they made that decision,” he said in an interview after the presentation, “but bureaucracy is always willing to fight to defend a bad decision.”
Cairns said with the official bicentennial of the start of the war just a few months away, this is the best opportunity yet to try to win official recognition.
“What other opportunity has there been or will there ever be to try to achieve what we’re doing?” he posed. “The War of 1812 is the foundation stone that leads to Confederation that leads to the country we are today.”
stracey@guelphmercury.com
Why all the celebrating?
War of 1812 bicentennial is a big deal – in Canada
Richard Simon | Washington | Feb 25
LA Times - It may have given Americans 'The Star Spangled Banner,' but Canadians say they were the big winners. Major celebrations are planned.
For a piece of history that gave us the rockets' red glare and bombs bursting in air, the War of 1812 tends to evoke a collective "Huh?" on the U.S. side of the border with Canada.
"The War of 1812 has no compelling narrative that appeals to the average American,'' said Jerald Podair, a history professor at Lawrence University in Wisconsin. "It's just a hodgepodge of buildings burning, bombs bursting in air and paintings being saved from the invaders, all for a vaguely defined purpose. "
Yet the vacuum of interest in the War of 1812 is about to get a pyrotechnic blast of attention for its bicentennial year.
Canadians, who consider the war a pivotal conflict in their nation's history, have made 200th anniversary celebrations a national priority and are opening government coffers to stage a splashy show. Also, a few American cities and states, mostly on the East Coast and Great Lakes where fighting took place, are planning commemorations that have some brushing off their war reenactment uniforms.
For Americans who may have napped during this history lesson, the War of 1812 is a bit of a dud, historians say.
"If you ask the average American what they think about the War of 1812, some will have a puzzled look and ask who fought in that war?" said Ralph Eshelman, a Maryland historian who has written about the war in the Chesapeake Bay region. Another historian joked that about the only thing most Americans know about the War of 1812 is that it began in, well, 1812.
While some U.S. boosters believe our side won, many historians say the war — largely fought over British impressment of American seamen and interference with U.S. trade and westward expansion — ended in a draw.
And then there's that episode when the British burned Washington. "We don't have a lot to celebrate,'' said William Fowler, a Northeastern University history professor.
Still, the war produced the words for "The Star Spangled Banner" as Francis Scott Key watched the defense of Baltimore. Andrew Jackson was elevated to hero status for his victory at the Battle of New Orleans. And Dolley Madison earned her place in the history books for saving George Washington's portrait from the British torching of the White House.
The war also "confirmed the independence of a young republic whose success and prosperity was not foreordained or guaranteed,'' said Carl Robert Keyes, an assistant professor of history at Assumption College in Worcester, Mass.
There are those in Canada, however, who view their country as a victor, largely for repelling American invaders.
"It was very much a war of independence and is seen as one of the defining chapters in Canadian history," said Ron Dale, War of 1812 bicentennial project manager for Parks Canada. To celebrate the military achievement, the Canadian government plans to spend at least $28 million on activities, including televised war vignettes and battle reenactments.
"It's a much bigger deal up here," said Jack Jedwab, executive director of the Assn. for Canadian Studies.
Canada would not exist had the American invasions of 1812-1814 not been defeated," said Lyle Williams, a spokesman for Niagara-on-the-Lake War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee.
"The war linked the disparate British provinces in shared danger against a common enemy and eased the way for confederation, the establishment of the Dominion of Canada five decades later in 1867," said Dale of Parks Canada. "Canadians take pride in their victories against overwhelming odds during the conflict but also applaud the postwar results — 200 years of peace and an incredibly strong friendship with our American neighbors.''
LA Times - It may have given Americans 'The Star Spangled Banner,' but Canadians say they were the big winners. Major celebrations are planned.
For a piece of history that gave us the rockets' red glare and bombs bursting in air, the War of 1812 tends to evoke a collective "Huh?" on the U.S. side of the border with Canada.
"The War of 1812 has no compelling narrative that appeals to the average American,'' said Jerald Podair, a history professor at Lawrence University in Wisconsin. "It's just a hodgepodge of buildings burning, bombs bursting in air and paintings being saved from the invaders, all for a vaguely defined purpose. "
Yet the vacuum of interest in the War of 1812 is about to get a pyrotechnic blast of attention for its bicentennial year.
Canadians, who consider the war a pivotal conflict in their nation's history, have made 200th anniversary celebrations a national priority and are opening government coffers to stage a splashy show. Also, a few American cities and states, mostly on the East Coast and Great Lakes where fighting took place, are planning commemorations that have some brushing off their war reenactment uniforms.
For Americans who may have napped during this history lesson, the War of 1812 is a bit of a dud, historians say.
"If you ask the average American what they think about the War of 1812, some will have a puzzled look and ask who fought in that war?" said Ralph Eshelman, a Maryland historian who has written about the war in the Chesapeake Bay region. Another historian joked that about the only thing most Americans know about the War of 1812 is that it began in, well, 1812.
While some U.S. boosters believe our side won, many historians say the war — largely fought over British impressment of American seamen and interference with U.S. trade and westward expansion — ended in a draw.
And then there's that episode when the British burned Washington. "We don't have a lot to celebrate,'' said William Fowler, a Northeastern University history professor.
Still, the war produced the words for "The Star Spangled Banner" as Francis Scott Key watched the defense of Baltimore. Andrew Jackson was elevated to hero status for his victory at the Battle of New Orleans. And Dolley Madison earned her place in the history books for saving George Washington's portrait from the British torching of the White House.
The war also "confirmed the independence of a young republic whose success and prosperity was not foreordained or guaranteed,'' said Carl Robert Keyes, an assistant professor of history at Assumption College in Worcester, Mass.
There are those in Canada, however, who view their country as a victor, largely for repelling American invaders.
"It was very much a war of independence and is seen as one of the defining chapters in Canadian history," said Ron Dale, War of 1812 bicentennial project manager for Parks Canada. To celebrate the military achievement, the Canadian government plans to spend at least $28 million on activities, including televised war vignettes and battle reenactments.
"It's a much bigger deal up here," said Jack Jedwab, executive director of the Assn. for Canadian Studies.
Canada would not exist had the American invasions of 1812-1814 not been defeated," said Lyle Williams, a spokesman for Niagara-on-the-Lake War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee.
"The war linked the disparate British provinces in shared danger against a common enemy and eased the way for confederation, the establishment of the Dominion of Canada five decades later in 1867," said Dale of Parks Canada. "Canadians take pride in their victories against overwhelming odds during the conflict but also applaud the postwar results — 200 years of peace and an incredibly strong friendship with our American neighbors.''
Saturday, 25 February 2012
Dancing to history’s drummer in Gananoque
Feb 23, 2012 By Lorraine Payette
EMC Events - Time marches steadily on as Gananoque continues to prepare for the bicentennial of the War of 1812.
"Dances weren't just wonderful entertainment," says Nigel Kilby, classic English Country Dance Instructor from Ottawa. "They were also a great way to meet people, and have the young people get to know each other."
And they still are. About 30 people of all ages gathered at Dreams in Motion to take part in the workshop held on February 12 in the hope of getting ready for all the classic balls that are sure to be held this season. Clothing at this session ranged from contemporary comfy to full Regency evening dress, and everyone was a little nervous to start.
But that didn't last long.
Kilby immediately put the crowd at ease as he set them up in two long lines, men facing women, and instruction began. Everything was light and pleasant, with never a harsh word, no matter whose foot got trampled or who went the wrong way. After all, everyone has to start at the beginning, and Kilby himself was the only one at the affair with any experience.
"Everyone find your fours," Kilby told the group, a request meaning every two couples were to join hands, forming a group of four dancers.
Once done, each couple was designated either one or two, with the ones dancing to the bottom of the hall, while he twos danced to the top.
"I will only say this once," Kilby joked as he gave patient instruction for each step and the order in which it was to be performed. And each step was repeated as often as was necessary for the dancers to master and understand exactly what they were doing.
Soon everyone had figured out which was the "inside hand" and how to promenade, moving quickly to casting (the couple turns away from each other and moves down the line past another couple to meet in a different position in the line), crossing, and stars (dancers extend either the right or the left hand to the centre of their four, and move around the pivot they have formed). The pousette (each couple joins hands at arms length, then do-si-does around the other couple) was a bit tricky at first, but as soon as it was figured out, dancers flowed smoothly up and down the room. And everyone had to remember when they changed from couple number one to couple number two, and vice-versa.
In English Country Dancing, partners and pairings are far from permanent. With every dance, new partners are taken, and everyone in the room dances with everyone else.
"Look your partner in the eye," Kilby said. "Don't be afraid of them. Always look at your partner, nod to your partner, dance with your partner, and then move on."
Even the fast dances are measured and stately, and the repeated circular movements as the couples move up and down the lines on the floor make the activity visually appealing for observers, as well as stimulating for those participating.
There was never any close body contact, or the rude quick movements seen in modern dances. Hands were held at nearly arms length, smiles were polite and close mouthed, posture erect and stately. Always gracious, always charming, always elegant, and at the same time, always enjoyable. Very few other activities can bring all of that together in one place.
"This is really fun," said Adan MacDonald. And there was plenty of laughter from all generations as each took a turn at mastering a step or making a mistake.
All too quickly the three hours were over, and dancers were still begging for more. And more is planned for the future.
"I just want to keep dancing!" one little girl shouted as her parents told her it was time to leave. To learn more about English Country Dancing and get involved in the next workshop, please contact Nigel Kilby at nmkilby@cyberus.ca or phone at 613-836-2233, or ask at Dreams in Motion, info@dreamsinmotion.ca or 613-382-6700.
Classes are reasonably priced, and the mood of instruction is light and relaxing while remaining completely effective. See you at the ball!
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