Flag Day ceremony in Buffalo

Today is Flag Day, and the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park has a historic ceremony scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at the Naval & Military Park, 1 Naval Park Cove at Canalside (near the Rotary flagpole).

In addition to a solemn ceremony to honor the American flag, the Naval Park will officially the end the War of 1812 commemoration committee's long journey and work by dedicating the Ghent Rose Garden at the park. The Niagara 1812 Legacy Council and the Naval Park will welcome the Treaty of Ghent Rose Garden to the park on Buffalo's waterfront. 

In 1814, a single yellow rose became the symbol of the Ghent Peace Treaty, which ended the War of 1812 between the United States of America and Great Britain. That peace treaty, signed in Ghent, Belgium, was the basis for a 200-year friendship between the U.S., Great Britain and Canada. 

In the 200 years that followed, that symbol of the peace treaty rose was lost and forgotten. Through a series of meetings and the determination to have the Ghent Treaty yellow rose find a home in all three countries - and through the exchange of letters describing the rose written by John Adams, the sixth U.S. president, it was determined a yellow rose was used. A garden of yellow roses and a plaque will be unveiled at the Naval Park.