forgotten times and returned honour

[CANDANeh]

(Halifax, N.S. Thursday, May 12, 2005)— A colour party from the USS Constitution, the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat, will participate in a ceremony here later this month to commemorate the unmarked graves of close to 200 American prisoners who died while imprisoned here in the early 1800s.

Known as "Old Ironsides" because of her seemingly invincible oak hull, the USS Constitution was one of the original six frigates that made up the U.S. Navy. The 44-gun frigate was built in 1797 at the Edmond Hartt Shipyard, in Boston, and she fought in the United States' undeclared naval war with France, as well as against Barbary pirates in Mediterranean. The ship found her greatest fame and glory in the War of 1812. It was in this war, during a battle with the HMS Guerriere, that she earned her famous nickname "Old Ironsides."

Historians have concluded that at least 195 American prisoners from the War of 1812 died while confined to Melville Island Prison, on the North West Arm in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and were buried on an adjoining property, Deadman's Island.

An American flag will be presented to the people of Halifax in exchange for a promise to preserve the site and honour the memories of the soldiers. Members of the Kings Orange Rangers historic re-enactment group will be at the ceremony today along with others from around the province. Leonard Hill, the U-S consul general in Halifax, says the U-S Department of Veterans Affairs will also unveil a bronze plaque honouring the dead. Hill says the ceremony will provide a sense of completion.