[StBernard] Battle of New Orleans Bicentennial Events in St. Bernard Parish This Week

[Westley Annis]

Battle of New Orleans Bicentennial Events in St. Bernard Parish This Week

 

St. Bernard Parish will this week host many of the commemorative events
related to the two-hundredth anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans.  

"We're proud that so many of these important activities are happening in St.
Bernard and every facet of our community, including the local government,
law enforcement, the school system, our community college, the port, area
businesses and our churches, is in some way participating in this special
anniversary," said Parish President David Peralta.

 

With the increase in tourists, accessing some of the events will require
taking a shuttle.  The atrium of the parish government complex will also
serve as the St. Bernard Parish Tourism Commission Visitors Welcome Center.
"Parking will be restricted at the Chalmette Battlefield on Thursday, Friday
and Saturday.  Visitors should park at the St. Bernard Parish Government
Complex and catch the free shuttle to the battlefield.  The government
complex is also the parking area for the off-site battle reenactments taking
place at the Woodlands on Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday morning," said
Peralta. "The reason why the battle reenactments are not taking place at the
battlefield is because federal regulations prohibit these events on National
Park Service property.  Fortunately Terry Tedesco and the Meraux Foundation
have stepped up and permitted the reenactment community to use their land,"
said Peralta.

 

The first big event on the schedule is the wreath laying event on January
8th, the two hundredth anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans, at the
Chalmette Battlefield at 9 AM.  The United States Postal Service will unveil
a commemorative postage stamp marking the American victory on the "plains of
Chalmette at the ceremony and Ambassador from the United Kingdom Sir Peter
Westmacott will speak.

 

After the morning commemorative event on Thursday and all day on Friday and
Saturday there will be living history presentations and weapon
demonstrations at the Chalmette Battlefield.  The Chalmette Battlefield
events are free and open to the public.  Starting on Friday at 10:30 AM and
running through Saturday evening, Elaine P. Nunez Community College will
host their annual symposium on the Battle of New Orleans, which will include
lectures on the major participants in the battle, the military engagements
and interpretation of the battle in film.  

 

Parking is available at Elaine P. Nunez Community College, 3710 Paris Road
in Chalmette. The Daughters of the British Empire will hold a wreath laying
ceremony at the De La Ronde ruins in Chalmette at 10 AM on Friday.  The
ruins are the largest physical structure that was involved in the battle and
was where General Edward Pakenham's body was taken after he was mortally
wounded during the battle. A shuttle will run from the parking lot of Rocky
& Carlo's Restaurant, 613 W. St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette.  

 

At 11:00 AM a prayer procession will be led by Archbishop Gregory Aymond
from Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church, 2320 Paris Road in
Chalmette, to the De La Ronde oak grove across from the plantation ruins.
Traffic will be interrupted on Paris Road and St. Bernard Highway during the
procession, which is expected to last until 1 PM.  Parking will be available
at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church.

 

On Friday evening at 7 PM, the Louisiana Living History Foundation will hold
a reenactment of the December 23, 1814 night battle that was the first land
engagement of the New Orleans campaign at the Woodlands, 8207 Patricia in
Chalmette.  This is the thirteenth consecutive year this reenactment will be
held, having started in 2003 by then-councilman Michael Bayham.   The Friday
night reenactment is sponsored by St. Bernard Parish Government is free and
open to the public.  There will be no on-site parking for the reenactment
and visitors are asked to park at the government complex as the site is
within walking distance.

On Saturday, three battle reenactments will be held at the Woodlands: the
December 28, 1814 reconnaissance in force attack, the New Year's Day
artillery duel and the January 8, 1815 British victory on the west bank.  

 

On Sunday morning, the Woodlands will hold the largest War of 1812 battle
reenactment ever conducted in America when the Battle of New Orleans is
recreated.  Over 1,000 reenactors from the United States, Canada and
overseas are expected to participate in the battle.  The Saturday and Sunday
events have a $10 daily admission for adults.  Children below the age of 12
will be admitted for free.  Tickets can be ordered for the Saturday and
Sunday reenactments at www.lalivinghistory.org
<http://www.lalivinghistory.org> .