PUT-IN-BAY, OH –– Today at the Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial, the offices of U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) will pay tribute to the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie by presenting the bipartisan resolution that passed the Senate, and was co-sponsored by Brown and Portman, which commemorates the occasion and the bravery of those soldiers who helped procure American freedom. The celebration will also be attended by local military personnel, elected officials, and representatives from the National Park Service. In advance of the bicentennial, Brown offered the following statement:

“The 200th anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie is a reminder that sacrifice and bravery are needed to secure a free and independent United States,” Brown said. “The soldiers who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie were patriots who should always be remembered for their heroism. This includes Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry who is memorialized here in Ohio. In honoring them we can better appreciate the long lasting peace between Britain, Canada, and the United States.”

In July, the U.S. Senate formally recognized the Battle of Lake Erie when a resolution offered by Brown, that commemorated its bicentennial, was unanimously approved by the Senate.

In April, Brown applauded the U.S. Mint and the National Park Service for unveiling the “Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial” quarter which honors the American victory at the War of 1812’s Battle of Lake Erie, its hero Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, and the lasting peace between the United States, Great Britain, and Canada.

First established as a national site in 1919, the memorial stands over Lake Erie, five miles from the longest undefended border in the world. The memorial bears the name of Commodore Perry who became known as the “Hero of Lake Erie” and awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his actions which procured American victory. Buried under the memorial’s rotunda are three American and three British naval officers killed in action during the battle.