Paulding Monument Marker Dedication
On Saturday, September 23, 2017 the Old Van Cortlandtville Cemetery Association held a Plaque Dedication to unveil a new marker for the John Paulding gravesite. I was honored to be a part of the ceremony and also to secure the funds needed to create the plaque. Knowing of my interest and involvement in promoting history and being a Revolutionary War Reenactor for over 40 years, members of the association approached me hoping I would help in the creation of the plaque. I was glad to have the opportunity to have a hand in the initiative to create the plaque and was able to obtain the funding required to have the plaque created and installed.
The act of John Paulding and his comrades Isaac Van Wart and David Williams capturing British spy Major John Andre was a turning point in our nation’s history. In recent years, the story has a renewed interest due the background setting of West Point, George Washington, Benedict Arnold and especially the new details regarding the spy ring involved in the war. A number of books and even a television series has appeared in just the last few years giving renewed interest in the story.
John Paulding, the lead figure in the capture of Andre, is buried in the Old Van Cortlandt Cemetery just yards from the historic Revolutionary War Era Old St. Peter’s Church. He died in 1818 at the age of 60 and was honored with a prominent site and stone/obelisk structure. Over time, the words engraved into the marble monument have faded and it is just a matter of time until they are lost forever. The new plague that was installed replicates the engraved words exactly so as to preserve them for generations to come.
Paulding Monument Marker Dedication
On Saturday, September 23, 2017 the Old Van Cortlandtville Cemetery Association held a Plaque Dedication to unveil a new marker for the John Paulding gravesite. I was honored to be a part of the ceremony and also to secure the funds needed to create the plaque. Knowing of my interest and involvement in promoting history and being a Revolutionary War Reenactor for over 40 years, members of the association approached me hoping I would help in the creation of the plaque. I was glad to have the opportunity to have a hand in the initiative to create the plaque and was able to obtain the funding required to have the plaque created and installed.
The act of John Paulding and his comrades Isaac Van Wart and David Williams capturing British spy Major John Andre was a turning point in our nation’s history. In recent years, the story has a renewed interest due the background setting of West Point, George Washington, Benedict Arnold and especially the new details regarding the spy ring involved in the war. A number of books and even a television series has appeared in just the last few years giving renewed interest in the story.
John Paulding, the lead figure in the capture of Andre, is buried in the Old Van Cortlandt Cemetery just yards from the historic Revolutionary War Era Old St. Peter’s Church. He died in 1818 at the age of 60 and was honored with a prominent site and stone/obelisk structure. Over time, the words engraved into the marble monument have faded and it is just a matter of time until they are lost forever. The new plague that was installed replicates the engraved words exactly so as to preserve them for generations to come.