Submitted by Nancy Cardillo, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, New York
(Niagara At Large is pleased to post this one from our friends and neighbours in Buffalo, New York who are joining Niagara, Ontario in remembering the biccentenial of the War of 1812. This post invites all of us, on both sides of the border, to join hands across the border in a wreath-laying ceremony this September 14, on a Friday afternoon, at Buffalo’s Forest Lawn Cemetery for Commodore Stephen Champlin, a Buffalo area hero who served in the War of 1812. Here is the post.)
Forest Lawn to Host Wreath-laying CeremonyAs Part of Navy Week Buffalo
The grave in Buffalo, New York’s Forest Lawn Cemetary of prominent War of 1812 veteran Stephen Champlin. We are all invited in a public remberanance of this person of our shared history this Friday, September 14. Photo courtesy of Forest Lawn Cemetery.
WHAT: Navy Week Buffalo Wreath-laying Ceremony
Many important battles during the War of 1812 were fought right here on the Niagara Frontier, and several of Forest Lawn’s permanent residents – as well as the land on which Forest Lawn now sits – played an important role in this historic conflict.
The public is invited to join Forest Lawn, in collaboration with the U.S. Navy as part of Navy Week Buffalo, for a wreath-laying ceremony at the gravesite of Commodore Stephen Champlin, to honor all military personnel who served in the War of 1812. This event is free and open to the publi
NOTE: Stephen Champlin entered the U.S. Navy as a sailing master as the War of 1812 began. He commanded the schooner Scorpion in her capture of the British Little Belt during the Battle of Lake Erie and, later, was wounded when his ship was taken on Lake Huron. Retired in 1855, Captain Champlin was later promoted to Commodore on the retired list. He died in Buffalo in 1870 and is buried in Section F at Forest Lawn. Two ships have been named USS Champlin for him, as was Champlin, Minnesota. Commodore Champlin is the cousin of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. Relatives of Commodore Champlin are expected to attend the ceremony.
WHEN: Friday, September 14, 2012, 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: Forest Lawn Cemetary, 1411 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY
Wreath-laying Ceremony
About Forest Lawn
As one of the first deliberately designed and professionally landscaped rural cemeteries in the United States, Forest Lawn is at the heart of Western New York’s cultural tourism renaissance. Its first interment took place in 1850; today there are 162,000+ permanent residents in this 269-acre, nonsectarian, not-for-profit cemetery. As a destination for art, history and genealogy, Forest Lawn offers year-round guided tours, educational programming, an annual flag retirement ceremony, special veteran programming and so much more. Forest Lawn is the only local full-service cemetery for traditional and cremation arrangements listed on the State and National Registries of Historic Places. At Forest Lawn, the future is our past. For more information, visit www.forest-lawn.com or find us on Facebook.
The wreath ceremony takes place right after this heritage cemetary’s regularly-scheduled 2:00 p.m. one-hour “Forest Lawn and the War of 1812” trolley tour, held every Friday through October 5. Cost to take the tour is $15 and reservations must be made. People interested can call 716.885.1600.
Niagara At Large 