New York State Parks Reprieved

New York's Governor Patterson has arranged a deal to reopen the state parks and historic sites that were recently closed because of budget cuts. The announcement came just in time for Memorial Day Weekend--fortunate timing because many such sites schedule events commemorating those who have given their lives in service of our country.

So, back I went to New Windsor Cantonment in Orange County, which was holding a variety of Memorial Day events in the course of the weekend. Yesterday (Monday) afternoon began with a brief prayer service at the graves of two Revolutionary War soldiers (New Windsor is an important locale in Orange County's Revolutionary War history), and the participants were dressed in period costume. As we all assembled at the grave site, a complement of soldiers, their marching skillfully coordinated by a drummer, followed by an army chaplain and a woman, proceeded to the site.
The prayers included Psalm 46 (appropriately--it speaks of God putting an end to wars: "Be still and know that I am God") and the Lord's Prayer, and the lady put bouquets on each of the graves. At the conclusion, the soldiers marched out again, but not before their spokesperson invited all present to a concert of patriotic music to be held in the Temple Building, a replica of a building that originally stood on that site in Revolutionary times.
The music was provided by balladeer Linda Russell, a historian who has obviously delved into the history of these songs and not only sang them but also played them, sometimes on period instruments. It was great fun for all because Linda invited the audience to sing along on everything from "Yankee Doodle Dandy" to the best-loved
songs of George M. Cohan. This is a big part of what "doing history" is about these days: not only the Great Men and the Great Deeds, but also uncovering what the ordinary folk were doing. Thanks to all who volunteered their afternoon to dress in those very warm costumes for our benefit and hold a prayer service for our nation's war dead, and to Linda Russell and the young lady who sometimes acompanied on violin for providing the spirited music.
The Purple Heart Hall of Honor also stands on this site, nd it was good to see so many peole, including families with children, visiting to learn about this aspect of U.S. history.
I've yet to make it to Knox's Headquarters, which is just down the road. Watch this space--one day I'll send you a report from there!
Be sure to visit my website fstopnancyphoto.com for some great photos, especially of New York and New England! Interested in photography? Check out my photoblog on that site!

New York State Park and Historic Site Closures

Thanks to New York State's budget crisis, a substantial list of state parks and historic sites are closed, or have their operations reduced, as of tomorrow. In some cases the result is as relatively trivial as a reduced golf course season; in others, entire historic sites are simply being closed. It may be hyperbolic to use a word like "tragedy," but it's certainly exceedingly unfortunate--and, I think, a very great mistake--to be so shortsighted as to deprive people of the opportunity to learn about our history through visiting these sites. Several of them are connected with the Revolutionary War and, in addition to the signs and plaques explaining what's there, have also offered reenactments with people dressed in period costumes.

So, today I went and photographed one such site that I had never visited before--the New Windsor Cantonment in Orange County, not too far from where I'm now living. This is where General George Washington moved his army for winter quarters in 1782-1783. These photos show a wide-angle view with the old monument and a tomb of an Unknown Soldier.
Another historic site to be closed in this area is the Stony Point Battlefield, a
strategic Revolutionary War site that overlooks beautiful Haverstraw Bay and includes the Stony Point Lighthouse.
F
arther upstate, in the Adirondacks just outside Lake Placid, one casualty of the closings is the John Brown Historic Site commemorating the famed abolitionist.
I have no intention of getting involved in political commentary in my blog, but I can't post this "in memoriam" without expressing the hope that the November elections result in some common sense in Albany. The people of New York deserve that.