The Red Geranium may soon be the symbol of the Historic War on Lundy's Lane

June, 2012 will mark the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812. This pivotal war between the United States and Great Britain spilled over the American borders into Canada and became a pivotal moment in the formation of the Country, especially in Ontario and the Niagara Region.

Niagara Falls played a crucial role in the war when in July of 1814, what is considered by many historians to be “The bloodiest battle of the war of 1812” took place on a hillside known as Lundy’s Lane.



A Teacher to the Rescue
As the city of Niagara Falls became more popular as a vacation destination to travelers from around the world, many hotels, restaurants and other businesses began to take over and set up shop along the now famous street and while doing so, began to slowly destroy some of the best historic landmarks of the great war.

After watching this happen, a Niagara Falls school teacher named Ruth Redmond began buying up properties in the Falls that played a significant role in the famous battle of Lundy’s Lane and held onto them, even rejecting some “Generous” offers to purchase some of the land from large hotel chains.

Miss. Redmond kept all the property she had bought in her name until 1996 when at the age of 93 she donated it to the city with the condition that it be turned into a commemorative park honoring everyone who fought and died in the Battle.

Only three years later, at the age of 96, Miss Ruth Redmond died with the knowledge that her dreams of getting a proper tribute to the brave soldiers that fought in Niagara Falls in the war of 1812 will be met.

In Memory and Honor
Now that 2012 will mark 200 years since the war, it is only proper that the City of Niagara Falls begin a new campaign to celebrate what Ruth Redmond had done for preserving what may have been the most brutal battlefields in the war.

Niagara Falls’ Member of Provincial Parliament Kim Craitor is leading the charge in the campaign to make the red geranium the official flower and symbol of the War of 1812.

Mr. Craitor has introduced a private members bill into the Canadian Parliament to proclaim the Red Geranium as the floral symbol of the war of 1812.

The idea to use the Red Geranium as the symbol to mark the 200th anniversary came from two groups, the Niagara Falls 1812 Task Force and the Niagara 1812 Legacy Council. Both groups are determined to keep the history of the war of 1812 alive today and are eager to gain attention to the bicentennial.

And what better way to gain some attention than to assign a flower as the official emblem to represent the war. A flower that was favorite by Ruth Redmond, the Red Geranium would be a perfect way to pay tribute to both a legendary war and a legendary woman determined to preserve what she could of it.

The bill introduced to Canadian Parliament by Kim Craitor still need to pass to second reading where it will garner more serious attention but until then residents of Niagara Falls will continue to plant the Red Geranium to help play their role in commemorating the soldiers who fought on the famous Lundy’s Lane Battle field.

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