Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) introduced a resolution today that would urge the United States Postal Service to issue a stamp to commemorate the War of 1812. The war, also known as America’s Second War of Independence, broke out 35 years after the American colonies declared independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776, and only 24 years after the Constitution was ratified on September 17, 1787. The War of 1812 inspired the Star Spangled Banner, the first appearance of Uncle Sam, and the phrases “Don’t Give up the Ship,” “Remember the Raisin,” and “We have met the enemy and they are ours.”
The war was a critical juncture in American history. The country had yet to establish industrial and military strength and faced significant economic and political challenges as a newly-founded nation. “The success of the great experiment that was the American Republic was far from certain immediately following the Revolutionary War,” said Dingell. “America was young and victory against the mighty British Empire was far from guaranteed.”
The War of 1812 is especially significant to the citizens of Monroe, Michigan. Monroe, which is located in Michigan’s 15th Congressional District, is the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the War on 1812, which took place in January 1813 on the banks of the River Raisin. Of the 1,000 Americans that fought in the battle, only 33 escaped death or capture. The sacrifice paid by the hundreds who lost their lives in the battle gave rise to the rallying cry “Remember the Raisin” and inspired thousands of Americans to join General William Henry Harrison’s forces and take part in his campaign in the spring of 1813. The River Raisin Battlefield is poised to soon become the newest unit of the National Park System. The creation of the park was made possible by Congressman Dingell’s River Raisin National Battlefield Act, which was incorporated into the now-enacted Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009.
Congressman Dingell commented, “We owe a great debt to those Americans who came before us and made the ultimate sacrifice to secure the sovereignty of our great nation. It is a small but necessary token to remember and commemorate the extraordinary contributions of these brave Americans. Their efforts made possible the freedom and independence that we enjoy today.”
The United States Postal Service has a long history of issuing stamps that commemorate historic events and heroic individuals from American history. Congressman Dingell hopes that it will continue this tradition and honor the Americans that fought in the War of 1812. He said, “It is important for us to remember the extraordinary price paid by Americans who protect and defend our freedoms and our liberties. Our way of life would not be possible without their sacrifice. I hope that this stamp will remind Americans today of the War of 1812 and of the pivotal role it played in our great nation’s history.”
