The morning of January 8, 2010 was bitterly cold - one of the worst days of the worst winter for decades.  With the addition of fog, it would have been similar to the morning of January 8, 1815 when General Packenham's British troops were soundly defeated by General Jackson's American troops at the Battle of New Orleans.

Every year on this day, the battle is reenacted on the battlefield at Chalmette, now part of Greater New Orleans.

This year, a small band of intrepid Louisiana DBEs were on hand for the wreath-laying ceremony.  First Vice-President Hazel Turlington said a few words honoring the British forces who died at Chalmette, and she and President Jane Caruso laid a wreath in their memory.

Jane wore her tartan skirt to honor the 93rd Highlanders, one of the regiments who fought.  The British had nearly 2,000 casualties on that day, of whom 557 were from the 93rd. The American forces behind their parapet had 6 killed and 7 wounded.  Ironically, the battle need not have been fought.  Neither side had heard the news that peace had been signed two weeks earlier.

DBE member Cynthia Parham, State President Jane Caruso and First Vice-President Hazel Turlington were in attendance.  In previous years, the annual ceremony at Chalmette has been dominated by members of the Daughters of 1812.  Louisiana DBEs hope to attend in larger numbers in future, to honor the fallen British, leading up to a big turnout at the ceremonies in 2015, the 200th anniversary.