War of 1812 monument arrives in Amherstburg

A new monument commemorating the War of 1812 has finally arrived in Amherstburg.

A new monument commemorating the War of 1812 has finally arrived in Amherstburg.

The two bronze statues Windsor artist Mark Williams forged were unveiled Thursday. The two sculptures, forged on the American side of the border, were briefly hung up in a customs inspection.

One of the statues depicts a ship's gun commander and the other is a sailor. Together they are preparing to fire a cannon during the Battle of Lake Erie.

They will be placed permanently around a cannon at King's Navy Yard Park in Amherstburg.

The statues will be kept in storage until early August when they will be put in place.

Each sculpture weighs 158 kg (350 pounds) and cost $50,000 to create.

Anne M. Rota, the town's manager of tourism and culture, said the town is looking into obtaining a federal grant to fund the creation of two more figures.

CBC Windsor's Pat Jeflyn will have more about this story on Windsor at Six (channel 9, cable 10).