Pursuant to House Bill 1392 (2008), the Bicentennial of the American War of 1812 Commission was charged with preparing for and commemorating the bicentennial anniversary of Virginia's participation in the American War of 1812. The Commission was authorized to plan commemorative events and activities, encourage research to promote historical literacy and understanding of the war, and support organizations throughout the state as they planned commemorative events. The Commission consisted of 12 members as follows: Delegates M. Kirkland Cox of Colonial Heights; Rosalyn R. Dance of Petersburg; Christopher K. Peace of Mechanicsville; Kenneth R. Plum of Reston; R. Lee Ware, Jr. of Powhatan; Senators George L. Barker of Alexandria, Stephen H. Martin of Chesterfield; Frederick M. Quayle of Suffolk; Mr. Peter E. Broadbent, Jr., Esquire of Richmond, representing the Virginia Society of the War of 1812; Mrs. Nancy G. Heuser of Colonial Heights, representing the Virginia Society of the U.S. Daughters of the War of 1812; and Dr. Billy K. Cannaday, Jr., Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Dr. Sandra G. Treadway, Librarian of Virginia, who served ex officio with voting privileges. Staffing was provided by Barbara Teague from the Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates and Brenda Edwards and Jeff Sharp from the Division of Legislative Services.

The Commission competed its work in 2015 and did not meet during the 2017 interim.

Additional information regarding the Commission's activities is available through its website at http://va1812bicentennial.dls.virginia.gov/index.html.

The Commission submits this executive summary of its 2017 activities as its annual report.