Highland County to observe 200th anniversary of the War of 1812

We have met the enemy and they are ours. – Oliver Hazard Perry, War of 1812

Highland County will participate in the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 during a special ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Monday, June 18 at the Veterans Memorial outside the Highland County Courthouse.

Highland County Commissioner Tom Horst said VFW Post 9094 will lead the ceremonies, which will include the raising of a 15-star, 15-stripe American flag from the era.

Horst invited the community to attend the event at the Wednesday, June 13 meeting of the Board of Commissioners.

Horst also presented a letter from Joseph Zerbey IV, the chairman of the state's War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission.

In a June 4 letter to Ohio's county commissioners, Chairman Zerbey writes: "June 18, 2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the declaration of war beginning the War of 1812. The Governor's War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission is committed to creating awareness of this important time in our country's history and Ohio's involvement in this three-year conflict. Our first big project is a flag raising remembrance event to be held at the state Capitol in Columbus on June 18. The Commission has purchased a 15-star, 15-stripe 4'x6' flag (also known as the Star-Spangled Banner or Old Glory) for your county's courthouse. We hope that you will create your own event on June 18 to highlight Ohio's important place in the war and your county's contribution.

"This event could take shape in many different ways, and if you are looking for partners, the commission would recommend working with your local historical or genealogical society. We are happy to make suggestions for your event; if you wish, you can pattern your ceremony after the capitol version. This will include a reading of the declaration of war, the raising of the flag and a ringing of bells, sirens and whistles at noon. The ringing of bells is in conjunction with the Daughters of the War of 1812 initiative; this one small occurrence will tie your remembrance to other events occurring around the country.

"We hope, after June 18, you will continue to fly this special flag on important days relating to the War of 1812. By an an act of Congress, the 1812 flag of the United States is recognized as an official flag of our country during the three-year Bicentennial celebration. We have included a timeline of significant events to fly the flag. We hope you will join us in making that statewide event a seminal occurrence in each of the 88 counties of Ohio by raising the flag at noon on June 18 with an appropriate celebration."

The War of 1812 began in June 1812 and included several famous battles in Ohio, including the Battle of Lake Erie near Put-in-Bay.

United States Navy Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry served in the War of 1812 and at the age of 27 earned the title "Hero of Lake Erie."

Commodore Perry, aboard the Niagara, won the first U.S. Navy fleet action and captured an entire British squadron. Perry reported "Dear General (William H.)Harrison: We have met the enemy and they are ours. Two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop. Yours with great respect and esteem, O.H. Perry."