Senate Resolution No. 2140
BY: Senator STEC
COMMEMORATING the reinterment of 44 Colonial
patriots at the Memorial Plaza at Lake George
Battlefield Park on May 22, 2026
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor significant historical events and memorial observances which
reflect the rich heritage of the State of New York and the enduring
legacy of those who contributed to the founding of the United States of
America; and
WHEREAS, On Friday, May 22, 2026, the remains of 44 Colonial-era
patriots and citizens will be solemnly reinterred at the newly
constructed Memorial Plaza and Columbarium at Lake George Battlefield
Park in Lake George, New York; and
WHEREAS, These individuals are believed to have succumbed to
smallpox while receiving treatment at the Continental Army's military
hospital established at nearby Fort George during the Revolutionary War
in 1776; and
WHEREAS, Following their deaths, these soldiers and civilians were
laid to rest in unmarked graves in what is now the Village of Lake
George; and
WHEREAS, In February 2019, during excavation activities at a
construction site on Courtland Street in Lake George, human remains were
discovered both within excavated soil and in adjacent undisturbed earth,
prompting local officials to immediately seek the assistance of state
agencies, archaeologists, historians, and community stakeholders; and
WHEREAS, Through a coordinated and respectful weeklong recovery
effort involving local, state, and private entities, more than a dozen
sets of remains were carefully recovered from distinct burial shafts,
and over the following two years, more than one hundred volunteers
contributed countless hours toward the continued recovery and
preservation of additional remains from the excavated stockpile; and
WHEREAS, In total, the remains of approximately 44 individuals were
respectfully recovered and transferred to the New York State Museum in
Albany for scientific analysis, cataloging, preservation, and historical
study; and
WHEREAS, Archaeological and historical evidence strongly suggests
that the burial site was associated with the Continental Army's smallpox
hospital at Fort George, making this discovery one of the most
significant archaeological findings in the modern history of the Lake
George region; and
WHEREAS, During the years following the discovery, the New York
State Museum and collaborating experts undertook extensive scholarly
research, public presentations, and publication efforts to educate the
public about the importance of the site and the individuals interred
there; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of the historical significance and sacred
nature of these remains, officials and community leaders in Lake George
undertook the planning and construction of a dignified Memorial Plaza
and Columbarium at Lake George Battlefield Park to serve as the final
resting place for these patriots and as a place of remembrance,
reflection, and public education; and
WHEREAS, On May 20, 2026, a solemn ceremonial motorcade transporting
the 44 caskets will depart from the New York State Museum in Albany and
travel north along U.S. Route 9 through numerous communities, including
Glens Falls and Queensbury, before arriving in Lake George; and
WHEREAS, The public reinterment ceremony scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on
May 22, 2026, at Lake George Battlefield Park will provide residents and
visitors alike with a rare opportunity to witness and honor an
extraordinary chapter in New York's Revolutionary War history and Lake
George's pivotal role in the birth of this Nation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the reinterment of 44 Colonial patriots at the Memorial
Plaza at Lake George Battlefield Park on May 22, 2026, and to honor the
memory, sacrifice, and enduring legacy of these early Americans; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Village of Lake George, the Lake George Battlefield
Park Alliance, the New York State Museum, and other appropriate
organizations and officials associated with this historic undertaking.
