Media Advisory
Tennessee Guardsmen to Visit Deadman's Island
(Wednesday, June 21/2000) - Forty-three members of the Tennessee Air National Guard will be in Halifax on Friday to pay tribute to 188 American soldiers who are believed to be buried in military graves on Deadman's Island in Armdale.
Councillor for the District, Graham Read (Purcell's Cove/Armdale), is acting as HRM liaison with the group. He has arranged for a number of the Guardsmen to visit other historic sites in Halifax during their visit, including the old cell blocks on Melville Island and the grave of Colonel Ross (who commanded the British raid on Washington which resulted in the burning of the White House) at the Old Burial Ground on Barrington Street.
Councillor Read says the Guardsmen plan to attend the ceremony on Deadmen's Island in full uniform and place 188 small United States flags on the site where American soldiers captured during the War of 1812 are believed to be buried.
Experts have concluded that at least 265 French and American prisoners from the Napoleonic War and the War of 1812 (1803-15) died while confined to Melville Island (now the site of the Armdale Yacht Club) and that most were probably buried on Deadman's Island. At least 104 Chesapeake black refugees, who had fled to Canada from 1812 to 1815, died from small pox while being quarantined on Melville Island and most were probably buried on Deadman"s Island.
Following the service, the National Guardsmen will present an American flag ( which once flew over the White House) to the Halifax Regional Municipality during a ceremony at City Hall.
The following is the planned schedule of events:
09:45 a.m Arrive at Armdale Yacht Club and walk to Deadman's Island, via ravine and shoreline.
10:00 a.m. Ceremony, photo-op, tour Deadman's Island site.
11:00 a.m. Depart deadman's Island for Grande Parade
11:20 a.m. Arrive Grand Parade
11:30 a.m. Presentation of United States Flag to Mayor Walter Fitzgerald for the Halifax Regional Municipality
12:00 noon Reception, Halifax Hall, Main Level, City Hall
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Councillor Graham Read
(902) 488-4817
