Superintendent Scott J. Bentley announced that River Raisin National Battlefield Park, City of Monroe and Friends of the River Raisin Battlefield will be commemorating the 201st Anniversary of the Battles of the River Raisin on Saturday, January 18, 2014. There will be many activities for people to enjoy and participate in throughout the day.
At 10:30 A.M., United States and British re-enactment forces will conduct an 1812 Tactical Demonstration including weapons used during the Battles. The Tactical Demonstration will take place on the Battlefield adjacent to the Monroe Multi-Sports Complex located at 333 N. Dixie Highway in Monroe, Michigan.
At 11:30 A.M., re-enactors will join the VFW Honor Guard and others for a commemorative program at the Battlefield Visitor Center located at 1403 E. Elm Ave in Monroe, Michigan. An Open House with, plenty of hot drinks to warm everyone up, will commence at the Battlefield Visitor Center immediately follow the commemorative program.
At 1:00 P.M. Join Dr. James P. Cousins for an outstanding program at the Battlefield Visitor Center on “Students of War: Memories of the Republic at the Battle of the River Raisin.” Dr. Cousins received his PH.D. in History from the University of Kentucky and is currently the Director of Undergraduate Studies and Faculty Specialist at Western Michigan University. Dr. Cousins has done extensive research around the War of 1812 and published a worked titled “Kentucky’s ‘Free and Easy Generation’ in the War of 1812.” This is sure to be a fascinating program and perspective on the Battles of the River Raisin!
At 2:30 P.M. Join Interpreter/Naturalist Gerry Wykes for a great program on the “Heroes of 1812” that will take place at the Monroe County Historical Museum at 126 S. Monroe Street in Monroe, Michigan.
The Battlefield Visitor Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on January 18, 2014. Please join us for a wonderful day of programs and demonstrations as together we commemorate the sacrifices made during the Battles of the River Raisin 201 years ago.
