During the War of 1812, the Commonwealth of Kentucky made an extraordinarily disproportionate contribution to the war effort: 64% of the entire war’s casualties were Kentucky citizens.
The Kentucky National Guard and the City of Frankfort’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites are putting on a commemorative event June 22-23 to highlight the critical role Kentucky’s troops played in the War of 1812.
“Muster on the Kentucky” kicks off at 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 22, when state officials will lay a wreath in memory of Kentucky’s War of 1812 veterans at the Kentucky Military Monument in the historic Frankfort Cemetery. The modern-day Kentucky National Guard’s ceremonial artillery battery will fire a salute, as will reenactors armed with Kentucky Rifles. Later that afternoon, Frankfort officials will name a trail in the Leslie Morris Park on Fort Hill for a British-Canadian officer who died in Frankfort while he was a prisoner of war.
A gala dinner at the Capital Plaza Hotel Friday evening will feature a special presentation about Kentucky’s role in the war. On Saturday, June 23, several authors will speak and sign books at a day-long program at the recently restored Grand Theatre in downtown Frankfort.
A living history camp depicting Kentuckians on campaign during the War of 1812 will be set up at Kentucky River View Park on Saturday. Frankfort was where several units organized before marching northward to take part in the war’s campaigns along the Canadian border.
The Kentucky Historical Society is the administrative agency for the War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission, an 18-member body established by the Kentucky legislature in 2010. For more information, visit the War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission page at www.history.ky.gov.
MUSTER ON THE KENTUCKY
Kentucky’s Bicentennial of the War of 1812
All events free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.
Friday, June 22, 2012
1:30 p.m. Opening Ceremony, State War Memorial at Frankfort Cemetery, 215 East Main.
3 p.m. Dedication of Sailing Master James Miller Trail, Leslie Morris Park at Fort Hill.
3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Living History Demonstrations, Leslie Morris Park at Fort Hill.
7 p.m. Dinner, Capital Plaza Hotel, 405 Wilkinson Blvd. (Reservations required, please contact Robin Antenucci at 502-875-8687 or rantenucci@visitfrankfort.com.)
Saturday, June 23, 2012
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Living History Encampment, Kentucky River View Park, off Wilkinson Blvd.
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lecture Sessions, The Grand Theatre, 308 St. Clair St.
10 a.m. Frank Kuron “Thus Fell Tecumseh”
11:20 a.m. Harry Smith portraying Private William Greathouse
Noon to 1:30 p.m. Book signing (next to the theatre)
1:30 p.m. Glenn Stott, “A Different Kind of War: An Uneasy Time in the Thames Valley”
2:35 p.m. Bonnie Strassell, “Brothers at Dudley’s Defeat: A Mother’s Story”
3:35 p.m. Eddie Price, “Widder’s Landing: A Novel inspired by Kentuckians’ sacrifice in the War of 1812”
4:30 p.m. Summary and conclusion
5 p.m. Book signing following conclusion (next to the theatre)
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