To the Editor:

We held our dedication and ribbon cutting for Fort Tribute and the Medal of Honor Monument at the St. Lawrence Power and Equipment Museum in Madrid, on Sept. 5. I would like to thank Ron Sheppard, President of the Board of Trustees, Roger Austin, Secretary of the Board, as well as all of the Trustees for their support of this project.

We appreciate Congresswoman Elise Stefanik for also taking part in this event. Many thanks to the 11th New York Light Artillery, 60th NY Volunteer Infantry and the 118th NY Volunteer Infantry for their support in the military parade and honor guard. Dennis Barr for providing the sound system and period music.

The construction of this Fort would have not been possible without the financial support of our donors who made this project a reality. Thank you to the following:

President Abraham Lincoln Society ($30,000+), SeaComm Federal Credit Union; Army of the Potomac ($20,000 - $25,000), Alcoa Foundation (Grant), New York Power Authority (Grant); Corp ($10,000 - $19,999), Community Bank, NA, Donaldson Funeral Home, Massena & Donaldson-Seymour, Potsdam, Chad & Cathy Green, St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union, St. Lawrence River Valley Development Agency (Grant); Division ($2,500 - $9,999), Niles Asset Management, NuMed for Children, LLC, PW Campbell Contracting Inc.; Brigade ($1,000-$2,499), 11th New York Light Artillery / 60th New York Volunteers, Parkway Auto Group; Regiment ($500-$999), 9th Battalion Blue Ridge Grays, Ken & Sue Bellor, Canton Rotary Club, Bernard & Patricia Dominie & family, Massena Rotary Club; Company ($100-$499), Chuck and Linda Goolden, Mkb Solutions, LLC, Brooks Bigwarfe, Gene Michael Knowlton, United Steel Workers 420-A; Platoon (Up to $99), Mary Ellen Casselman, Mary Ann Doyle, David, McIntosh, Sarah Street, Troy & Dianna Remington, Gene Collier, Tom Hargrave and Mike MacCue.

The Fort will be accessible for tours from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. during the open houses at the St. Lawrence Power and Equipment Museum, Sept. 26, Oct. 10 and 24. Check out at slpowermuseum.org for additional details.

Scott Wilson

Volunteer Fort Tribute Coordinator