Artillerymen from the 141 Alpha Battalion of the Louisiana Army National Guard, based in New Orleans, fire a 21-gun salute as ships arrive in New Orleans in conjunction with the War of 1812 bicentennial commemoration. The events in New Orleans are part of a series of city visits by the Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Operation Sail beginning in April 2012 and concluding in 2015. New Orleans is the first and the last city visit in the series.