1812 Mound in the Meadow 2012

The War of 1812 is all the rage now, as well it should be. The war started 200 years ago this week and Western New York was a large part of it. As I wrote last year, there are 300 soldiers from that war buried in the middle of Ring Road, Delaware Park....about where hole #4 of the golf course is.

Last year Steve Cichon lead a processional out there to honor the soldiers buried in the Mound in the Meadow.  This year he spearheaded an additional memorial which ended up being placed outside the Zoo as it borders on the Park (the now closed gate #7, I think).

Good spot, really. As soon as you see it, about face, and there's the original boulder in the near distance.

After the ceremony dedicating the marker, we had flags to put around it, but it didn't seem right. So I asked Steve if we were allowed to go out to the monument, and he didn't see why not, seeing as it's a public park, Memorial Day, and those are war dead out there. That viewpoint may not have been universally shared (especially by golfers and their groundskeepers), but off we went. Started as a trickle, and turned into a steady stream.

The War of 1812 reenactors marched out too. Would have been even cooler if a fog had swirled in, but, as it were, they were impressive crossing the greens, and paying tribute.

Next year we should have a 21 gun salute, not that I know the proper procedure for 200 years after the fact. All the runners/walkers/joggers might hit the dirt too.  Maybe a few fireworks instead :)