U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Bryan M. Ilyankoff
Rear Adm. Gregory Nosal, commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2 and Cmdr. Eric Johnson, right, commanding officer of Naval Operational Support Center Akron, salute the national ensign at Fort Huntington Park during the Navy's commemoration of the bicentennial of the War of 1812. This celebration coincides with Cleveland Navy Week, one of 15 signature events planned across America in 2012. The week-long event commemorates the bicentennial of the War of 1812, hosting service members of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy.
The U.S. Navy joined local Cleveland historical societies Aug. 28, to honor those who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813.
A crowd gathered at Fort Huntington Park for the Battle of Lake Erie commemoration and annual meeting held by the Early Settlers Association of the Western Reserve. They were joined this year by the Navy as part of its commemoration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812.
The park is home to a statue of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry and a cannon taken from a British ship during the battle.
"Seven ships have been named after Oliver Hazard Perry, so that shows you the role that young man had in the Navy at just 28 years old," said Rear Adm. Gregory Nosal, commander, Carrier Strike 2.
Nosal spoke on the significance of the Navy keeping today's seas free, and how Perry's command defeated the British during the Battle of Lake Erie Sept. 10, 1813.
Clevelanders of all ages attended the presentation.
"We wanted to participate as much as we could in Navy Week events like this," said Jill Sah, who came to see the presentation with her two young children.
Several members of the Peter Navarre chapter of the United States Daughters of 1812 were also in attendance. One member said her great-great-great grandfather, Henry Hoagland, was a lieutenant colonel in the 135th Pennsylvania Militia.
"The story goes that he helped lift the [US] Brig Niagara over the sandbar in Lake Erie after they built it, before they put the cannons on it," said Deborah Hoagland Marisch.
The ceremony concluded with a memorial wreath presentation at the foot of the Perry Monument. The E.S.A., the Order of Founders & Patriots of America and the National Society of the Sons & Daughters of Pilgrims participated.
The Navy's Commemoration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 in Cleveland is one of 15 signature events planned across America in 2012. The week-long event commemorates the Bicentennial of the War of 1812, hosting service members of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy.
For more information about Cleveland Navy Week 2012, visit www.navyweek.org.
For more information about the commemoration of the bicentennial of the War of 1812, visit www.ourflagwasstillthere.org.
For more news from Carrier Strike Group 2, visit www.navy.mil/local/csg2/.
