Date: May 9, 2009
Contact: Bill Sawyer, 315-338-7730
Rome, NY — During this Memorial Day Weekend Fort Stanwix National Monument will host a series of events. These events include a French and Indian War encampment, a Saturday evening concert and a School’s Out at the Fort program.
On Saturday and Sunday, May 23 and 24, living historians will gather at Fort Stanwix to remember the men and women who served at the fort before the American Revolutionary War. Many of the men and women who served in the American Provincial forces during the French and Indian War later became instrumental members of the Continental Army and state militias. Come out, explore and enjoy this fun filled event that has something for people of all ages. On Saturday, May 23, the encampment runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday, May 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In the evening of Saturday, May 23, balladeer Linda Russell will perform a concert on the parade ground inside the fort from 7 to 8 p.m. Many of the songs she will perform were sung during the French and Indian War. Some of these songs we still sing today, such as Yankee Doodle. This concert is for people of all ages.
This year, visit the country without leaving home! School’s Out at the Fort. Come to Fort Stanwix and learn about many of the National Park Service sites that have to do with the holidays we celebrate in America. On Memorial Day, Monday May 25, Fort Stanwix will present another program in the School’s Out at the Fort series. The program will focus of the National Mall in Washington, DC. Drop in to the Willett Center from 1 to 2 p.m. for hands-on fun, and earn Junior Ranger badges from around the country!
Oriskany Battlefield State Historic Site will be open to the public throughout the Memorial Day weekend from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Join the Park Ranger and explore the stories of this pivotal event in August 1777. Bring a picnic lunch, and reflect upon and enjoy the freedoms given to us by our gallant men and women during the American Revolutionary War. Ranger led programs available upon request. Remember to leave no trace; carry in and carry out.
Steuben Memorial State Historic Site opens to the public for the season on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25. The site will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On land given by the State of New York, Fredrick von Steuben constructed a cabin and invited immigrants to settle on the land. It is here that he is also buried. Steuben was known for his generosity and hosting enjoyable picnics and parties for friends and neighbors. Take time to visit the site and enjoy a family picnic in honor of a man who sacrificed much to give us the freedoms we enjoy today. A Park Ranger will be on site to provide programs upon request and to explore the life of an important man in United States history. Remember to leave no trace; carry in and carry out.
Fort Stanwix National Monument is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the park and the state historic sites is free. Activities are ongoing unless noted. For more information about upcoming events please call the park at 315-338-7730. Please visit the park’s web page at www.nps.gov/fost for additional information about the park and up-to-date news about park events.
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