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The picture above shows the Color Guard of British Fort George carrying off the Union Jack after lowering the flag. Fort George is an 1812-era fort at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada.

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I've shown several pictures of Fort George, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, in this blog. This picture shows the British flag flying above the wall of the fort.

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While visiting Fort Erie in Ontario, Canada, we saw a demonstration of the firing of this 1812-era mortar. It was a small piece, but it sure made a big noise.

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On a sad note we learned that Betsy's brother, Ray, died yesterday (Friday) afternoon. Please keep Betsy and Ray's family in your prayers. Our posting and visiting your blogs are likely going to be hit and miss for the next few days.

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The photo above was taken at Fort George, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario when Betsy and I visited there in 2002. The fort is fascinating and many things were of interest. But this flagpole especially caught my attention. The soldiers give you some indication of the height of the flag pole. And the British flag itself is of a corresponding size.

Why such a tall flagpole and such a big flag? Because in sight, right across the Niagara River, was an American fort. The British obviously wanted the Americans to know that they (the British) were here!

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The daily lowering of the flag at a military installation is known as Retreat. We witnessed Retreat at Fort George while we were there in 2002. The soldiers and fife and drum corps were dressed in the uniforms of British soldiers circa 1812.

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This cannon is part of the armament of the British Fort Erie in Ontario, Canada. The job of Fort Erie was to protect Canada from invasion by the United States. Buffalo, New York, can be seen across the river.

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Old Fort Erie was the first fort built (in 1764) by the British in what is now Ontario, Canada. It is located across the river from Buffalo, New York, and was used as a base for British troops, Loyalist Rangers and Iroquois Warriors during the Revolutionary War. It was also besieged by the United States from August 3 to September 21, 1814, during the War of 1812.

This picture was when Betsy and I visited the Fort in August, 2002.