Assembly Resolution No. 882

BY: M. of A. Cashman

COMMEMORATING October 11, 2026, as the 250th
anniversary of the Battle of Valcour Island in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, This year, 2026, marks the 250th Anniversary of the
founding of the United States of America; this is an occasion of
profound historical importance that commemorates the struggle for
independence, self-government, and liberty; and

WHEREAS, New York State was the site of numerous pivotal events
during the American Revolutionary War; serving as a strategic corridor,
battleground, and meeting ground for ideas that shaped the emerging
nation; and

WHEREAS, On October 11, 1776, the Battle of Valcour Island was
fought on Lake Champlain near Valcour Island; this marked one of the
first major naval engagements of the American Revolutionary War; and

WHEREAS, The American naval force, commanded by General Benedict
Arnold, though ultimately forced to withdraw, courageously engaged a
superior British fleet in defense of the northern frontier; and

WHEREAS, This engagement delayed the British advance from Canada
into the Hudson Valley, preventing a coordinated assault that could have
divided the colonies and altered the course of the war; and

WHEREAS, The strategic consequences of the Battle of Valcour Island
contributed directly to the conditions that enabled American victory at
Saratoga in 1777, a decisive turning point in the Revolutionary War; and

WHEREAS, The Battle of Valcour Island is an example of resilience,
ingenuity, and strategic foresight in the face of overwhelming odds; it
exemplifies the determination that defined the American struggle for
independence; and

WHEREAS, Lake Champlain and the surrounding region has remained
central to New York's military, economic, and cultural history, linking
the state's colonial past to its present role as a gateway of commerce
and cooperation; and

WHEREAS, The Battle of Valcour Island has been preserved in the
public memory through the enduring efforts of patriotic organizations
such as the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Sons of the
American Revolution; their dedication to historical education and
commemoration has ensured that the sacrifices made in defense of liberty
are neither forgotten nor diminished; and

WHEREAS, The Battle of Valcour Island occupies a central place
within the North Country's Triangle of History, a historically and
geographically connected landscape which links Valcour Island, the
Batlle of Plattsburgh, and local historical sites, now preserved and
commemorated through the Battlefield Memorial Gateway on the former
Plattsburgh Air Force Base; and


WHEREAS, Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of
Valcour Island provides an opportunity to educate New Yorkers, honor
those who fought in defense of liberty, and reflect upon the values that
continue to guide the State and Nation; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Valcour Island,
honoring its historic role in securing American independence and its
lasting importance to the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic
Preservation, and such other entities as deemed appropriate to mark this
historic anniversary.