Don’t frigate about it

 

Sorry to start this story off with a pun, but I really want the idea of Cleveland Navy Week to get on your calendar this summer (August 27-Sept. 4th). For years the US Navy has had a very limited presence in the Great Lakes because of the Treaty of Ghent (Signed December 24th 1814 to end the War of 1812). I mean why would you, when the US has open borders and solid relations with our friendly northern neighbor Canada.

 
So it turns out the Navy is excited about coming to Lake Erie this summer to be a part of the Bicentennial Celebration. Cleveland is one of just 15 Bicentennial Cities selected across the US for Navy Week. In their press release the Navy exclaims “America’s Navy will “come home” in 2012, giving area residents an opportunity to meet Sailors and learn about the Navy’s capabilities and relevance to national security. Cleveland Navy Week will commemorate the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and The Star Spangled Banner”.

 
This is music to my ears. Here in Put-in-Bay where the US Navy came of age in 1813 in the Battle of Lake Erie, the Navy has had an extremely limited involvement in our Historic weekend, but not this year. Dave Zavagno, The Perry Group Bicentennial Chairman was asked to be involved in the planning of Cleveland Navy Week. He has tirelessly gone to a dozen day long planning meetings and I am here to report the results are in!

 
From August 27th to September 4th, in downtown Cleveland, not far from the Browns Stadium, between Docks 28 and 30, will be the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate De Wert. Built in 1982 she is 453 feet long, 45 feet wide and 124 feet tall. Pretty much the biggest Navy Vessel to sail the Great Lakes. This frigate was named for Hospitalman Richard De Wert (1931–1951). De Wert was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism while serving with the 7th Marines during the Korean War.

 
On the morning August 27th a small group of Battle of Lake Bicentennial supporters will get the honor of being aboard the USS De Wert as she sails from Toledo to Cleveland. Then on August 30th The Perry Group will host a special day of events at Navy Week in Cleveland.

 
The Brig Niagara will come in from Erie the night before and berth just across from the De Wert. There will be excitement in the air; literally, as planes from the Cleveland Air Show do practice runs overhead. Then just after lunch the Niagara will host a day sail for Battle of Lake Erie Bicentennial Supporters. When she returns the longboat we have been building will arrive for it’s christening run. Lowered from the side davits of the Niagara with sailors and descendents of Olive Hazard Perry aboard, the longboat will make her way to the USS De Wert for a ceremonial transfer of command.

 
Then aboard the De Wert a pinning ceremony will take place. The Perry Family and members of the Perry Group will give four outstanding sailors, selected by the De Wert’s commanding officer, a special Battle of Lake Erie pin. A reception will ensue on the dock from 3:30 to 8pm with the US Navy Jazz Band performing from 5-8pm. Join us for an amazing day in Cleveland to kick off our 2013 Battle of Lake Erie celebration.

 
But it doesn’t stop there; on Sunday September 2nd the US Navy Band will come our way to an island area venue to perform for us. Then for the first time since the Centennial in 1913 a Navy vessel, Patrol Craft USS Hurricane (PC-3) will be in our harbor for Historic Weekend and will join in the wreathe laying ceremony for the sailors out at the Battle of Lake Erie site. And the Navy promises that they will be back again in 2013 for our Battle of Lake Bicentennial Celebration. So don’t FRIGATE August 27th through September 8th as we launch the 2013 Bicentennial.

 
PS: Wouldn’t it be cool if we could get a couple hundred island friends to arrive aboard a ferry from Put-in-Bay that day in Cleveland August 30th?