FOR RELEASE:  October 19, 2010

 

 

Meet the Marines of 1812 at the Troy Museum

 

 

(TROY, MI) – Celebrate the 235th birthday of our country’s oldest military unit with members of the Brooks Detachment, US Living History Marine Corps of 1812 at the Troy Museum & Historic Village on Wednesday, November 10 from 10 am – 3 pm.

 

 “The village is an excellent backdrop for the Marines reenactment.  The re-enactors portray Marines that fought in the Frigate Navy circa 1805-1815, Marines that were trained to provide musket fire during battles, fight from the “tops” on ships, replace disabled cannon crews, and lead boarding and landing parties,” Museum Manager Loraine Campbell said. 

 

·         Visit the encampment and learn about camp life, view period equipment, and watch costumed re-enactors present a typical camp plus see historical displays of weapons, photos, and original 19th-century Marine artifacts (10am-3 pm); 

 

·         Organic fireside cooking demonstration, a hands-on activity - children can help prepare the ingredients for a hearty beef stew (11 am);

 

·         Musket-firing and drilling demonstration (12 pm) followed by recognition of the 12 historical Troy residents who were veterans of the War of 1812 (including Johnson Niles and Solomon Caswell), and “Mourn” Arms drill command, taken from the 1812 Manual of Arms, to honor the over 229,000 Marines killed in action and missing in action since 1775; 

 

·         At 1 pm the Marines 235th Birthday cake will be ceremonially cut with an authentic period sword. The oldest Marine present will receive the first piece. Newest member of the Armed Forces present receives the second piece. Rest of cake is distributed to the public.

 

The Brooks’ Detachment was the recipient of the 1997 Magruder Award bestowed by the USMC Historical Foundation for living history excellence.  Sgt. Don Burzynski holds three EMMY’s from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for TV concepts. The group has been featured in several History Channel and A&E original productions.

 

Museum admission is $3 for adults, $2 for children ages 6-17.  Children under the age of six are free. The Museum is located at 60 West Wattles Road at the northwest corner of Wattles and Livernois.  For more information, call 248.524.3570.

 

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