Three shots rang out on campus Friday morning to commemorate the death of the University’s namesake, Sir Maj.-Gen. Isaac Brock.

War of 1812 re-enactors from Fort George performed the sombre ceremony that included a three-volley salute honouring the fallen war hero who died in battle at Queenston Heights 201 years ago on Oct. 13, 1812. Flags were also lowered by members of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment.

Douglas Kneale, Dean of Humanities and MC for the event, noted the occasion marked 200 years of peace between three nations: Canada, the U.S. and First Nations.

“And not just peace but friendship, fellowship, co-operation, trade, travel and convergence on common borders,” Kneale said.

“Today, we are in good company and as we approach our second 50 years as a community that comes together to study, to learn, to teach and to serve, our sense of place and our sense of history unite in the company of all the women and men of Brock who have come before us – students, staff, faculty, including, in the words of the poet (John Henry Newman), ‘those whom we have loved long since and lost awhile’.

“Our commemoration today reminds us all of where we’ve come from as a community and as a nation.”

The Friends of Fort George will also host a commemorative service at Brock’s Monument on Sunday, Oct. 13 at 2 p.m., honouring those who died at Queenston Heights.