On Friday July 6, 2012 Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy will be hosting a spectacular War of 1812 Bicentennial Commemoration in Delaware Park. The event is being touted as one of the premiere Olmsted events mainly due to a unique performance by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO). That, and an even more extraordinary demonstration that will see four skydivers (Frontier Skydivers) descending right into Delaware Park.
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Additionally, there will be a dove release ceremony, a flyover by an Air Force C130, dance performances by Sheldon Sundown and The Haudenosaunee Dancers, a presentation by the binational Color Guard, a Veterans of War and First Responders Parade, food offerings, a beer tent, and a wrap up fireworks spectacular.
The commemoration is being held on the Delaware Park golf course in back of The Zoo. The festivities kick off at 5:30pm with the C130 flyover set for 6:30pm. Frontier Skydivers will descend into the park at 8pm, which is also when the BPO will kick off with a rousing and patriotic program filled with marches and other period music. Fireworks are scheduled to begin around 9:30pm.
The beer tent is being provided by Magnolia Catering Buffalo and food will be provided by The Tee Cup and Martin Cooks.
This is a siren call for the former Canal Community that the Peace Bridge wants to demolish...some of that area is the last link of our canal community and the war of 1812.
I know the War of 1812 isnt remembered much by Americans but still it is a part of US history, it made Buffalo a strategic national location defending all of the future midwest from the British and before that the French.
Its pathetic that children growing up in Buffalo know little to nothing about LaSalle exploring the Great Lakes, the French and Indian War, how it led to the Revolutionary War and how it led to the War of 1812. None of them are separate isolated wars.
The Erie Canal was about building the economy and trade to support national defense...even the trade we think of wasnt purely economics. How do you think it got the financing?
Sad...pathetic...unfortunate...opportunities for national branding, name recognition (other than snow), history, architecture, all ignored.
Sad and pathetic.
Years ago I wrote an article for BRO about what Buffalo could do to celebrate. I had about 15 action items. I faxed them to the Historical Society, and got a response that they of course are planning to really do a lot of things to commemorate the War.
Totally agree -- we could have developed a national branding for this war. We could, for instance, do a category of all remaining buildings, cemetaries, forts, ANYTHING that still exists from 1812 or prior for people note and visit. We could have established a regional history program that would kids of all ages. We could have invited dignitaries from the state, national and British and Canadian governments for celebrations and reenactments. WE could have promoted this for tourism, just as Philly promotes the War for Independence.
There was even a Bicenntenial Commissioned authorized by Congress that actually provided grant money for activities in each state that had the war. I faxed that legislation along too, and the response I got was that everyone was totally unaware of this. (I faxed it to politicians as well). NYS is supposed to have appointed one person, as all the other states were, to coordinate activities. Who is that person? No one knows, and in case they sure as hell aren't doing anything.
Is the BNE planning anything? City Hall? How will the burning of Buffalo, one of the biggest events in the entire life of the city, be commemorated?
The indians fought on both sides. They were the big losers in the war. We could have coordinated with local tribes and reservations to begin to heal those wounds that they still feel, and also to educate people on what happened to them, and to us. Kids love learning about indians, but I guess that would require a modicum of imagination to involve actual live indian people in our celebrations.
So much attention could have been focused. We could have coordinted with Canada on celebrations ( they have lots planned, even if we don't). We could have coordinated with Washington, Baltimore and New Orleans to create a visitors itinerary for every day of the War.
Where are the seminars to reassess this war? Where are the historians? The professors? Asleep at the switch, as usual.
We will get no response on this, of course. The Buffalo Tourism will do something stupid little thing and then proudly proclaim about how wonderful they are to issue a proclamation on the 200th anniversary of the burning of Buffalo.
Yes, I am quite bitter that this very important event that was fought for 1 and half years on the Niagara Frontier, where many US soldiers died, and many civilians, and changed the course of Buffalo's history forever, is just ignored. One concert doens't do it.
Hear, hear.