The country was young in 1812, but Louisiana had already been
around for a while. Although we achieved statehood only on April
30, 1812, we had been a colony under France from 1699-1763 and
Spain from 1763-1803. With the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, of
course, Louisiana became an American possession. Although it was
rough going at first, with the Louisiana Catholic French and
Spanish Creole culture colliding with the Americans, we all
pulled together when the country went to war. In many ways,
America gained its identity as a nation during the War of 1812.
Certainly, that’s when our “song” was written– what later became
our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner. This week, we get
to relive those events of 200 years ago, when the very young
United States of America went to war with England in the War of
1812. Louisiana played a part in the war, of course, and NOLA
Navy Week is kicking off the commemoration of the war this week,
from April 17 through April 23. Similar celebrations will take
place in Norfolk,