In an effort to make this year’s Independence Day celebrations greater than ever, the Flagship Niagara League has offered to assist the City of Erie in the production of the “Boom Over The Bay” fireworks show in Erie Harbor, July 4, 2009.

“The Boom Over the Bay” fireworks show is from 9:45pm until 10:00pm and will for the first time ever, include a cannon-fire demonstration by the Flagship Niagara! Niagara will be located about a quarter mile north of the Bayfront Convention Center, and will fire guns toward Liberty Park and Dobbin’s Landing.

Flagship Niagara Capt. Wesley Heerssen asserts “I designed a plan, and submitted it to the USCG for approval, which will add an additional safety zone on Presque Isle Bay, just north of the zone established around the fireworks barge, for Niagara to anchor and provide a cannon-fire demonstration during the show”.

Capt. Heerssen further stated, “If the prevailing southwest wind cooperates, I intend to anchor the ship with multiple anchors, set as much sail as the weather conditions will allow, and then fire our 12-pounder, 24-pounder, and 32-pounder carronades. The carronade firing will occur just before the fireworks begin and during the Grand Finale. The Flagship will signal the start of the show with six guns, fired in succession. Approximately sixteen minutes later, we will fire six more guns during the grand finale, creating a patriotic spectacle!

The Flagship Niagara’s Independence Day celebration will kick off with the first-ever “Flagship Niagara Independence Day Parade of Boats”, which runs from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. through Erie Harbor. Anyone with a power-driven vessel or an auxiliary powered sail boat of 16 ft. or larger is invited to join in the parade. This parade is intended to give boaters and yachtsmen of Erie an opportunity to show their Erie pride, and help support Niagara as a good cause. Parade participants are invited to purchase a “Don’t Give Up The Ship” flag (available at multiple locations listed below) to show their support for Erie’s one-of-a-kind asset, the Flagship Niagara. “We hope to see Commodore Perry’s flag flying on every boat on the bay this 4th of July”, said Niagara League board president, Brian Scott.

“Don’t Give the Ship” flags can be purchased at the following locations:

Anchor Marine Ltd., Lakeshore Towing/Wolverine Park Marina, LeClaire Point, Bay Harbor Marina, North East Marina, Presque Isle Marina Association, Sail Erie, Erie Power Squadron Erie Yacht Club, Commodore Perry Yacht Club, Presque Isle Yacht Club, Perry’s Landing Yacht Club, and the Erie Maritime Museum