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Perrysburg, OH -- It;s been more than 10 years since the U.S. Navy has brought its summer cruise of warships into Toledo's harbor and the Maumee River. But there is a chance that in two years, Toledo could be invaded again by what may be the biggest fleet of Navy ships on the Great Lakes in many years.
The event is the Bicentennial celebration of the War of 1812 and Toledo is in the hunt along with many other Great Lakes cities to play host to a large flotilla of warships. On Tuesday of this week, Captain Pat Burns who is the director of the Navy's Office of History and Heritage arrived in Toledo with a contingent of other Navy officers to meet with community leaders who are waging a quiet but determined campaign to sell Toledo as a stop for the Bicentennial naval fleet tour of the Great Lakes. Burns says his office is considering a variety of factors in the decision process, including whether the Maumee River is deep enough to handle the Navy ships and whether there is enough public access for what could be as many as 10 ships, plus a flotilla of tall ships including Perry's historic brig Niagara.
The Navy team visited with leaders in Mayor Bell's office, including Deputy Mayor, Steve Herwat, and Toledo Police Chief Mike Navarre. They assured the Navy officials that Toledo can handle the logistics, security and navigation needs for an event that might also include a week of activities and events including an air show. Such an event could draw hundreds of thousands of people to the area. Local historians also lobbied the naval officers with reasons why Toledo is perhaps the most historically significant Great Lakes city relative to the War of 1812. Its location is closest to South Bass Island, the site of the famous Battle of Lake Erie in which Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry captured the British fleet, thus ending the British control of Lake Erie and the surrounding areas. In Perrysburg, named in honor of the famous Admiral, there is hope that the national celebration will also bring some national attention to this historic Wood County community on the river. Mayor Nelson Evans, says "I'm hoping we can get them tyo bring their ships and bring people to the area and help educate everyone about the importance of the war and Ft. Meigs". Fort Meigs, was also a stop for the Navy team where they were briefed on how the 1812 fort was a key factor in the defeat of the British and Indians in the area, and how it helped pave the way for the eventual and decisive defeat of the British and Indians at Thames Ontario.
Community leaders who are organizing the efforts have been reluctant to speak publicly about the campaign to win one of the tour stops in 2012. While Mayor Bell's office has been involved in the effort, it has declined to talk about it, The competition for these tour stops is fierce, with Toronto, Buffalo, Erie, Cleveland, and Detroit also the running. The largest cities may have some natural advantage as the Navy leaders say they must take into account how many people an area can attract and handle. Captain Pat Burns tells NBC 24 that he will have his report and recommendations ready for the Admirals by September 15th and that Toledo should know if it will be playing a major role in the Navy's commemorative Great Lakes tour.
