Finding a community that doesn't respect and honor it's military heritage, especially in the North County, would be fairly far-fetched. In the small town of Sackets Harbor, not only is the military history deeply rooted, but the honor for it's veterans flies high. 

“We’ve got two of our seasonal interpreters and they are showing the public how one would do laundry in the War of 1812 time period,” Sackets Harbor Battlefield Site Manager Constance Barone said, as she watched the re-enactors perform.

Sackets Harbor in Jefferson County is where history comes to life. It's role in the War of 1812 and it's programs to commemorate it, draw people from all over the state and country.

What You Need To Know

  • Sackets Harbor is a beautiful village nestled up against Lake Ontario in Jefferson County

  • The village is most known for its military history and role during the War of 1812

  • This year, the village is honoring its local veterans with banners hanging throughout downtown

“Sackets Harbor’s military history is, of course, very important. We were strategically located during the War of 1812 and we say today, we’re still strategically located for tourism," said Barone.

To honor those who over the course of the past 200 years have sacrificed so much to make Sackets Harbor what it now is, the village, led by historian and battlefield site manager Constance Barone, has strategically located banners featuring local, past military members on utility poles throughout the village’s streets.

“Julius Terry was an African-American man who lived in Sackets Harbor before the War of 1812. During the War of 1812 he fought with the militia and he also then joined the Navy,” Barone said while looking at Terry’s banner.

With every amazing story, comes a personal connection. It’s why this project was so special to Barone.

“This banner is for my father Robert Brennan. He served in World War II. He ferried airplanes across the Atlantic. This is certainly something he would have been excited about, is to see military veterans being honored on these banners,” she said as she looked at Brennan’s banner.

In fact, Barone has several family members on these banners, as does many others in this village.

“I know everyone has really enjoyed the other banner series’ we’ve done, but this seems to be a particularly touching one, touching people’s hearts. Certainly with so many local families who have families represented on the banners, it is very, very personal,” Barone added.

Sackets Harbor is hosting a couple of special events over the next few weeks to celebrate it's military history.

On Saturday, September 25, it will bring in re-enactors to demonstrate more of military and civilian life 200 years ago. Then on October 9, it will have a fall fun story walk through the battlefield’s History Trail.