Monroe event commemorates Battle of the River Raisin
1/13/2014The River Raisin National Battlefield Park, the city of Monroe, and Friends of the River Raisin Battlefield will commemorate the 201st anniversary of the Battle of the River Raisin on Saturday. The events are free. The park visitors center will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The activities are to begin at 10:30 a.m., with re-enactors portraying American and British forces. The demonstration will be held on the actual battle site, adjacent to Monroe Multi-Sports Complex, 333 N. Dixie Hwy.
At 11:30, the re-enactors will join a VFW honor guard and others for a program at the visitors center at 1403 E. Elm St. There will be an open house afterwards with hot drinks.
At 1 p.m., historian James Cousins will present “Students of War: Memories of the Republic at the Battle of the River Raisin.” Mr. Cousins, who earned a PhD in history from the University of Kentucky, is director of undergraduate studies and faculty specialist at Western Michigan University and has extensively researched the War of 1812.
At 2:30 p.m., interpreter/naturalist Gerry Wykes will present his program, called “Heroes of 1812,” in the Monroe County Historical Museum, 126 S. Monroe St.