RMC CLUB (HAMILTON BRANCH) CELEBRATES THE ANNIVERSARY OF
THE BATTLE OF LUNDY’s LANE –
JULY 25, 2014
RMC CELEBRATES THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF LUNDY’s LANE
JULY 25, 2014
The Hamilton Branch is hosting a Luncheon event for RMC Alumni and guests, in Niagara Falls on Friday July 25th, 2014.
July 25 is the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Lundy’s Lane, one of the last decisive (and bloody) battles of the War of 1812.
Now it is 3.5 MONTHS away! You may wish to plan a late July trip to Niagara that weekend and take in the Lundy’s Lane celebration by the locals and RMC, the Falls, and the Shaw Festival at Niagara On The Lake. It will help our planning if “early” consideration is given by all.
The battle itself occurred at dusk (7pm-ish), and the Lundys Lane Historical Society (LLHS) of Niagara Falls will hold their annual remembrance ceremony in the evening of July 25, at the battlefield site. RMC participation is enthusiastically solicited by organizers.
The plans for this celebration are updated as follows…
1. Friday Luncheon July 25th (1130am for 1215pm), with speakers, for ex cadets and spouses in the Oak Room (capacity 180) of the Best Western Plus Cairn Croft Hotel, 6400 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls, L2G 1T6. [The Best Western is a 2 or 3 block walk to the Battlefield Site.]
2. A block of 80 Best Western rooms have been reserved for RMC guests for the evening of July 25th . The “block price” is $164.99 plus taxes plus a $2/day “Planet Energy Fee”, Onsite parking +$7pd. Saturday breakfast is included. The “block” will be reserved for “RMC Ex Cadets” – “until 4pm July 17”. Call 1-800-263-2551 to make your reservation directly. Hotel address is 6400 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls.
3. Hamilton Branch would like an idea of numbers interested in attending by 31 May 2014. The fixed costs can then be apportioned over the number of tickets sold. The objective is to maximize outreach to Ex-Cadets at minimal cost. [rsvp to Bob Carr at carrbibi@gmail.com]
4. MND Rob Nicholson, MP for Niagara Falls, has kindly agreed to attend the Luncheon and to speak. His acceptance is vulnerable to any last minute interruptions in his schedule.
5. Major John Grodzinski, CD, Phd, Associate Professor of History at RMC has generously agreed to speak to the Battle (at the Luncheon) and to offer an optional guided tour of the Battlefield immediately after the Luncheon. The battlefield is very close to the hotel (walking distance).
6. Unfortunately the Regency Dancers are unable to perform at the Luncheon. They are all volunteers and will be working at that time, so this has been cancelled.
After the Luncheon (approx 3pm) and the optional Battlefield Tour (finish approx 4.30pm), all ex cadets and guests are free to partake in anniversary celebrations of their choice.
Suggestions for Friday July 25..
– 7.30pm The Lundy’s Lane Historical Society (LLHS) will hold its annual remembrance celebration, below the Drummond Hill Cemetery/Memorial, at the Battlefield site. There will be a candle-light walk to the memorial , then wreath-laying.
– 8.30pm Participate in a “re-enactment march” through the streets of Niagara Falls (Portage Road), up the hill to Lundy’s Lane. Wear a Tee Shirt, RED for British/Canadian,Native or BLUE for American (shirts are included when you pay the $12 registration fee at the NF Museum link below). The full march is 2.5km, but arrangements have been made for some to “join in” the march close to the Battlefield destination (at National Grocers parking lot …. 5772 Main St, Niagara falls).
– 9.15pm the march Participants (and others) congregate for a celebratory event on the Lundy’s Lane Battlefield. The idea is to have a sense of scale of numbers of participants in the Battle.
This link to the Niagara Falls Museum will give you additional details of events after the RMC Luncheon and Battlefield Tour.
You need to register on this site to reserve/purchase your Tee shirt, if you want one.
http://niagarafallsmuseums.ca/events/lundyslane200.aspx
Suggestions for Sat July 26th below….
– Tour of the Niagara Falls Museum ($5 charge)
– Shaw Festival at NOL in the afternoon
– Boat ride to the Falls. It is now called the “Hornblower” on the Canadian side, and the “Maid of the Mist” on the US side – changed from past years.
Comment – Some may choose to arrive on the 23rd or 24th to see all the area opportunities.