MONROE — State Representative Bill LaVoy (D-Monroe) spoke today at River Raisin National Battlefield Park to celebrate its opening for the season. Two U.S. congressmen, John Dingell (D-Dearborn) and Tim Walberg (R-Tipton), were on hand, as well as members of the National Park Foundation, the Community Foundation of Monroe County, and other organizations and businesses.
Several hundred children from Monroe and Wayne counties were also present to tour the battlefield and learn its history.
“It’s an honor to have a national park here in Monroe County, and I’m proud to support it,” LaVoy said. “It’s vital that we preserve land and history like this so that future generations can learn from and enjoy it the way we do today.”
The National Park Foundation also used the event to announce grant awards for River Raisin.
Authorized in 2009 and established in October 2010 as America’s newest national battlefield, River Raisin National Battlefield Park commemorates two January 1813 battles of the War of 1812 and their aftermath.