War of 1812 American dead to be honoured in Halifax ceremony

American officials are holding a special ceremony today to honour almost 200 U.S. servicemen who died in the War of 1812 in Halifax.

They are paying tribute to American prisoners of war who died while confined on Melville Island in Halifax.

They were buried on Deadman's Island, a piece of land that juts out into Halifax's Northwest Arm.

Historians say more than 8,000 Americans were imprisoned on Melville Island during the war.

The burial site for sailors, soldiers and prisoners of war was revealed during a dispute over a land development in the late 1990s.

Today is Memorial Day in the United States, when the dead in all wars are remembered.

The ceremony runs between 11 a.m. and noon.