PLATTSBURGH — The countdown has begun for the 26th anniversary of the Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration.
The 1814 Commemoration Inc., the non-profit organization behind the Battle of Plattsburgh, held a press conference at City Hall Wednesday to announce the full event schedule, which will kick off this year on Wednesday, Sept. 11 and conclude Sunday, Sept. 15.
1814 Commemoration Inc. President Tom Donahue said the festivities will begin with a ceremony at Crab Island, which can be viewed at the new Battlefield Memorial gateway for those who do not have water transportation to get there.
The following day will have memorial ceremonies at the Old Post Cemetery and Riverside Cemetery, with a U.S. Army Band concert at the Strand Theatre to conclude the night.
The popular reenactments will then arrive at Kent Delord House on Friday, Sept. 13, just in time for a weekend full of activities for those of all ages.
As usual, over the course of the event, museums around the City of Plattsburgh and local area will be open with information about the Battle of Plattsburgh that occurred in 1814.
Stan and Chris Ransom are again organizing and running the 19th-century children’s games throughout the celebration.
A full list of events can be found at: https://1814inc.com/
JONES SECURED FUNDING
Donahue thanked Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) for helping them put the event on this year.
It was announced recently that Jones secured $25,000 in state funds for the 1814 Commemoration, Inc. for their annual Battle of Plattsburgh festivities.
Donahue previously said the funding will help “offset the costs involved in producing a ‘Living History’ event such as the Children’s Old Time Village Fair with period demonstrators and re-enactors, military and civilian bands in our parade, music, entertainment, and much more. The volunteers at 1814 Commemoration Inc. would like to thank Assemblyman Jones for his continuing support of this important event.”
Additionally, Donahue said annually, the 1814 Commemoration is “always looking for volunteers to help out.”
“It’s a big event and we do this with … less than 20 people,” he said.
“If it wasn’t for some of the college students that come down on the weekend, it would be tough to do so. If anybody’s got a little bit of free time before that or during the event, please let us know. You can sign up on our website. We just (want) to invite you to join us in September.
“Remember, history is free. All the history back then is free to have but preserving it is not free. So anytime you get a chance to talk to somebody, to help support history in the Battle of Plattsburgh, please do so.”
‘WE DON’T WANT THIS TO DIE’
Donahue said it’s extremely important to continue holding this commemoration year after year.
“It’s the only reason we do this. We don’t want this to die. What happened here back in 1814 laid the basis for us being in the United States today. If we had lost that battle, most likely the British would have gone right down through New York, and we’d be speaking with a British accent right now,” he said.
“So making people aware of what happened here in Plattsburgh and the importance of it. People, they talk about the Battle of this, the Battle of that, very seldom do they talk about the Battle of Plattsburgh and it’s up to us to get that word out to people and not let it die. and our commemoration keeps that in people’s minds.”
He said the annual poster contest in schools helps with the education aspect of their goal as well.
“We’re willing to go to schools or have schools come to us from different areas and tell them about the Battle of Plattsburgh and what it was like back in 1800. We’re also working on a program to try to develop young people becoming reenactors and being interested in what happened back in 1814,” Donahue said.
“If you notice a lot of the reenactors we have these days. They’re not young people, and if they don’t start setting the seeds and bringing some people up along the way. We’re not going to have anybody in the future. So our organization, along with the 4-H of Clinton County, is working to try to develop some programs to teach kids about what it is to be a reenactor and learn about showing what the paths would be to reenact.”