198th Anniversary of Battle of New Orleans remembered with wreath presentation at Chalmette Monument on the battlefield

James Coleman Jr., honorary consul of Great Britain from the British Consulate in New Orleans, speaks at the ceremony for the 198th Anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans.

Tim Strain of Chalmette, escorting James Coleman Jr. of the British Consulate in New Orleans and Jane Caruso of the Daughters of the British Empire in Louisiana, lays a wreath at the steps of the Chalmette Monument at the end of the ceremony.

Chalmette resident Tim Strain, a volunteer re-enactor who is dressed in uniform as a figure in the Battle of New Orleans, salutes as the National Anthem is is played by a Marine Corps band at the opening of the ceremony Tuesday at Chalmette National Park remembering the 198th Anniversary of the battle where American forces defeated invading British.

The 198th Anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans, where American forces defeated the British at Chalmette, was commemorated Jan. 8 with a wreath presentation at Chalmette Monument on the battlefield.

The theme was the celebration of the peace and friendship that has existed between America and England since the Jan. 8, 1815 battle.

Ceremonies, presented by the United States Daughters of 1812 – with the Battle of New Orleans being the last battle of the War of 1812 – included appearances by members of its Chalmette chapter as well as its national and state groups.

Also attending was special guest James Coleman Jr., honorary consul of Great Britain from the British Consulate in New Orleans, Jane Caruso of New Orleans, from the Daughters of the British Empire in Louisiana for women of British ancestry, and Dana Masters a Tribal Councilwoman from the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians.

“This is a day of celebration for both America and Great Britain,’’ Coleman said at the ceremony. “I’m glad to see how beautiful the battlefield and new Visitor’s Center is.’’

Also speaking was Lance Hatten, acting superintendent of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, of which Chalmette Battlefield is a part of.

Chalmette resident Tim Strain, a volunteer re-enactor at the battlefield, took part in the ceremonies in uniform as Maj. Jean Baptiste Planche, a cotton broker who took part in the battle. Strain also escorted officials including Coleman and Caruso in laying wreaths at the steps of the Chalmette Monument.

Jerry Graves Jr., chief administrative officer for St. Bernard Parish government, represented the parish at the event and Chief Deputy Richard Baumy and Col. John Doran represented the Sheriff’s Office.