Originally Posted by SilentKnight

25 words?

Were you hoping for a bunch of cop-out quotes from Wikipedia?

Or would you like that from my perspective as a proud United Empire Loyalist descendent (on my father's side) who's ancestors played a major role in the settlement of much of Ontario...or from my Newfie heritage (on my mother's side) that dates back to the late 1400s in Canada...or from the perspective of someone who currently resides in the Niagara Region where many of the major battles of the war took place.

Or maybe I can relate to it through my own military service in the Canadian Armed Forces many moons ago. Or my father's military service. Or my grandfather's service in the Canada's Merchant Navy during WWII. Or any one of a handful of great uncles who served and died overseas for Canada during various wars.

What does the War of 1812 mean to me personally? I'm thankful and appreciative for the sacrifices made by British and native Canadian troops to defend the independence of Canada against American invaders who were attempting to expand the United States by acquiring Canadian soil.

I'm thankful I don't speak with a southern drawl, play banjo, lust over my sister and have a car on blocks in my front yard. I'm thankful not to share the American arrogance that the world revolves around me.

The War of 1812 was our statement and re-affirmation to the U.S. that we are a proud, independent and sovereign nation.

All that aside - as a history buff and photographer...I can take a visitor to virtually any of the significant War of 1812 historical sites from memory and provide them with a fairly accurate recitation of what transpired at the site.