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<br />November 22. 2011 <br /> <br />Recommended Action: <br />. Adoption of the resolution IS recommended. Vision Principle: Bold New <br />Directions. <br /> <br />Next Steps Following Council Action: <br />. Await further communications from the Bicentennial Commission. <br />. Begin exploring local activities to commemorate the war. <br /> <br />Motion by Mr. Heretick, and seconded by Mr. Whitehurst, to adopt the following <br />resolution, and was adopted by the following vote: <br /> <br />"RESOLUTION TO COMMEMORATE AND SUPPORT THE BICENTENNIAL OF THE <br />AMERICAN WAR OF 1812 IN VIRGINIA. <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the American War of 1812 was fought between the United States <br />and Britain from June 18, 1812 though February 18, 1815 in Virginia and Maryland, <br />along the Canadian border, along the western frontier, along the Gulf Coast, and <br />through naval engagements in the Great Lakes and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; <br />and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the strategic location of the Chesapeake Bay near the nation's <br />capitol made it a prime target for the British, and the coast of Virginia figured <br />prominently in the Atlantic theatre of operations; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, there were some seventy-three armed encounters with the British <br />that took place in Virginia during the war, and Virginians actively fought in Maryland, <br />Virginia, and Ohio and in naval engagements; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, an estimated 70,000 Virginians served during the American War of <br />1812; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the American War of 1812 helped forge a national identity among <br />the American states and laid the groundwork for a national system of homeland defense <br />and a professional military within the United States; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the bicentennial of the American War of 1812 provides an <br />opportunity for all Americans to commemorate the independence for which our <br />forefathers so bravely fought; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the 2009 Virginia General Assembly established the Virginia <br />Bicentennial of the American War of 1812 Commission to lead the Commonwealth's <br />commemoration of the bicentennial of America's Forgotten War, the Second War of <br />Independence and localities throughout the State have been requested to <br />commemorate the bicentennial locally with appropriate activities and to participate in the <br />several signature events and other numerous programs and activities have been <br />planned for the Commonwealth; <br /> <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of <br />Portsmouth, Virginia (the "Council") that <br /> <br />1. The Council commemorates the bicentennial of the American War of 1812 in <br />Virginia, and will endeavor to support the commemoration through locally developed <br />activities and participation in statewide bicentennial events and programs. <br /> <br />2. The Council hereby notifies the Virginia Bicentennial of the American War of <br />1812 Commission of its intention to execute local activities and to participate in <br />statewide events and programs to commemorate the bicentennial of the American War <br />of 1812 in Virginia, subject to the availability of resources." <br /> <br />Ayes: Cherry, Edmonds, Heretick, Moody, Randall, Whitehurst, Wright <br />Nays: None <br />