Clinton County Historical Association
The new Battle of Valcour Island InterpretiveCenter at the Peru Boat Dock, Route 9, south of Plattsburgh, will be officially unveiled on Saturday, October 10, at 11:00 a.m. as part of the Battle of Valcour Island Signature Weekend events. Geri Favreau, Chair of the ClintonCounty America 250 Committee, will welcome guests to the weekend’s events. NewYork State Senator Daniel Stec, representing the 45th Senate District, will offer greetings on behalf of the Senate, and Assembly Member Michael Cashman, representing the 115th Assembly District, will welcome attendees on behalf of the New York State Assembly.
Robert Daley, Regional Forester for Region 5 Forest Preserve Management of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, will discuss the partnership that led to the creation of the Interpretive Center and the area’s history as a National Historic Landmark. The Saranac Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will share the history of the Arnold monument, and Town of Peru Supervisor Craig Randall will be recognized for contributing the Center’s flagpole. John Rock of American Legion Posts 1619 and 912 will conduct the official raising of the flag donated by the Legion Post 1619.
The Center will officially open with an unveiling ceremony featuring John Rock, Craig Randall, Robert Daley, Jim Brangan Interim Director, NEIWPCC Lake Champlain Programs Division, and a representative of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Following the official opening of the Battle of Valcour Island Interpretive Center, Arthur Cohn, Nautical Archaeologist and Research Associate of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology at Texas A&M University, will lead a memorial recognizing the veterans who died in Valcour Bay, with Historian George Quintal reading of the names of the fallen. Commemorative wreaths will be laid in honor of both the American and Crown forces followed by an honorary rifle volley on land by the American Legion Posts 1619 and 912 with a volley on the water by representatives of the Sons of the American Revolution. The ceremony will conclude with closing remarks followed by fife music performed by Bill Long.
The Interpretive Center was created with support from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Town of Peru, American Legion Posts 1619 and 912, and the Clinton County Historical Association and a grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership.
