Politics & Government

Ceremony Marks Lives Lost in Historic Battle 200 Years Ago

Ceremony in Avon Lake Cemetery honors two unknown seamen.

A ceremony held on Sept. 8 added to the lore of Avon Lake Cemetery, noting the burial of two unknown seamen who perished in the Battle of Lake Erie almost 200 years ago to the day.

City and state officials, Boy Scouts and even the president of the Avon-on-the-Lake Garden Club helped commemorate two men whose bodies washed up on the shores of Avon Lake in the historic battle that allowed the United States to secure Lake Erie waters for the duration of the War of 1812. 

Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry (of Perry’s Monument) led the United States Navy to victory. His fleet of nine ships seized six British ships that were under the direction of Commander Robert Barclay.

Casualties in that battle were 27 Americans killed, 96 wounded and 41 British soldiers killed and 94 wounded.

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According to legend, two of the two of the 68 seamen who perished later washed up on the shore and were buried in what is now Avon Lake Cemetery. Those two individuals names, nationalities and ranks were never recorded and will most likely remain unknown.


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