PBS special on the War of 1812 will highlight Lake Erie battle

At 9 p.m. EST this Monday, PBS will air a 2-hour special on the War of 1812. It includes a segment on the Battle of Lake Erie and the lasting legacies of Oliver Hazard Perry's "Don't Give Up the Ship" battle flag and his victory message that inspired our young nation: "We have met the enemy and they are ours."

The Battle of Lake Erie was a turning point in the War of 1812. It secured American control of the Great Lakes, forced a British retreat and led to a 200 year peace between the U.S., Great Britain and Canada.

Events that transpired on Lake Erie almost two hundred years ago are an important part of our local heritage and in 2013 those events will be replayed and recalled as part of a massive Bicentennial celebration. The Battle of Lake Erie Bicentennial Celebration in late August through September 10, 2013 will bring together hundreds of thousands of people from the U.S., Canada and abroad. The two-week Celebration will include a large fleet of Tall Ships in an historic reenactment of the Battle of Lake Erie, a grand Parade of Sail and Port Festivals in waterfront cities in the U.S. and Canada. Visitors will be able to tour the Ships, enlist as Crew Members in the reenactment, or be part of the Bicentennial Fleet or Militia. Official invitees will include representatives from the U.S., British and Canadian governments as well as Native American Indian groups. It will be an epic Celebration for Ohio, the Great Lakes region and our nation. Click here to learn more about the Battle of Lake Erie Bicentennial preparations and activities. I will be reporting on the upcoming Bicentennial celebration in the months to come.