DECK LOG NATIONAL MARITIME HISTORICAL SOCIETY
"Our Flag Was Still There ... " e are well into 2012, and many maritime historians are focused on a national commemoration of the War of 1812 intended to expand understanding about the conflict for most Americans, whose knowledge of the war is generally limited. The Naval History and Heritage Command has led the way in planning the national commemoration program. They convened a task force composed :\~\.. o F T of knowledgeable and interested people from around the ~""2!; ~ country and from many disciplines and backgrounds to ".ÂŤ:; ,,.~~~~ '10 plan huge public events like tall ship visitations, parades ~ of sail, and air shows, and to coordinate information () ($) ..., ,.... about reenactments, museum exhibits, and smaller ~ l'-' symposia and lectures at venues across the country. At the first meeting, they chose a theme for the entire project suggested by Captain Walter Rybka, "Our Flag Was Still There." Captain Rybka is the senior captain for the brig Niagara out of Erie, Pennsylvania, namesake of the 2012-2015 ship which gained national fame in the Battle of Lake Erie "Our Flag Was Still There" (1813). Today Niagara sails your imagination right into an Age of Sail Great Lakes battle during the war. Captain Rybka is administrator for the combined Erie Maritime Museum and US Brig Niagara's operations. In addition to serving on the War of 1812 Task Force, he serves on the advisory board of Tall Ships America, is an editorial advisor for Sea History, and serves as president of the Council of American Maritime Museums. All of the planning is being done by individuals from different organizations, working together to share their knowledge and expertise to facilitate an unforgettable bicentennial commemoration. These events should serve to stimulate our interest to read more books, attend more seminars, and visit more museums to gain an in-depth understanding of the conflict that defined when the US Navy became viable and relevant and demonstrated the importance of our coast guard. There are activities planned for all walks of life, from families to sch olars, at events large and small. I encourage you to participate. Visit www.seahistory.org and www.OurFlagWasStillThere.org, and check out your local paper and state historical societies for updated information. You can order the Sea History Press Guide to the \.Vtzr of1812, which includes details on all of these events, atwww.seahistory.org or by calling 1-800-221-NMHS. I highly recommend a sail aboard Niagara this summer, and, just a stone's throw from Niagara's dock, the Erie Maritime Museum has a compelling 1812 exhibit. Other opportunities not to miss are the Sackets Harbor Battlefield in New York (on the US Brig Niagara under sail on Lake Erie east side of Lake Ontario) , a tour of USS Constitution and the USS Constitution Museum in Boston, and a visit to Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, particularly during the OpSail Baltimore Star Spangled Sailabration in June. Be sure to visit our NMHS booth in the OpSail ports along the East Coast. We will announce our locations on our website www.seahistory.org and would be delighted to meet you. -Burchenal Green, President
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PUBLISHER'S CIRCLE: Perer Aron, Guy E. C. Maidand, William H . Whire OFFICERS & TRUSTEES: Chairman, Ronald L. O swald; Vice Chairman, Richardo R. Lopes; President, Burchenal Green; Vice Presidents, Deirdre O'Regan, Nancy Schnaars; Treasurer, Howard Slomick; Secretary, Thomas F. D aly; Trustees: Charles B. Anderson; Walrer R. Brown; RADM Joseph F. Callo, USNR (Rer.); James Carter; David S. Fowler; William Jackson Green; Virginia Sreele Grubb; Karen Helmerson; Robert Kamm; Richard M. Larrabee; CAPT Sally Chin McElwrearh, USNR (Rer.); James J. McNamara; Michael W Morrow; Timorhy ]. Runyan; Richard Scarano; Philip J. Shapiro; Bradford D. Smirh; H. C. Bowen Smirh; Cesare Soria; Philip J. Websrer; Daniel W. Whalen; William H. Whire; Jean Wort; Trustees Elect: William S. Dudley; Capr. Brian McAllister; Richard Parrick O'Leary Chairmen Emeriti, Walrer R. Brown, Alan G. Choare, Guy E. C. Maidand, Howard Slomick; President Emeritus, Perer Sranford FOUNDER: Karl Kortum (1917-1996) OVERSEERS: Chairman, RADM David C. Brown, USMS(Ret.); Clive Cussler; Richard du Moulin; Alan D . Hurchison; Jakob Isbrandrsen; Gary Jobson; Sir Robin Knox-Johnston; John Lehman; John Stobart; William Winterer NMHS ADVISORS: Chairman, Melbourne Smirh; D. K. Abbass, George Bass, Oswald Brett, Francis J. Duffy, John S. Ewald, Timorhy Foore, William Gilkerson, Steven A. Hyman, J. Russell Jinishian, Hajo Knuttel, Gunnar Lundeberg, Joseph A. Maggio, Conrad Milsrer, William G. Muller, Smarr Parnes, Lori Dillard Rech, Nancy Hughes Richardson, Bert Rogers, Joyce Huber Smirh SEA HISTORY EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Chairman, Timorhy J. Runyan; No rman J. Brouwer, Robert Browning, William S. Dudley, Daniel Finamore, Kevin Fosrer, John Odin Jensen, Joseph F. Meany, Lisa Norling, Carla Rahn Phillips, Walter Rybka, Quentin Snediker, W illiam H. Whire
NMHS STAFF: E>:ecutive Director, Burchenal Green; Membership Director, Nancy Schnaars; Communications Director, Suzanne Isaksen; Marketing D irector, Sreve Lovass-Nagy; Accounting, Jill Romeo; Store Sales & Volunteer Coordinator, Jane Maurice SEA HIS TORY. Editor, D eirdre E. O'Regan; Advertising Director, Wendy Paggiotta; Copy Editor, Shelley Reid; Editor-at-Large, Peter
Stanford
SEAHISTORY 139, SUMMER2012