Commemorating the reinterment of 44 Colonial patriots at the Memorial Plaza at Lake George Battlefield Park on May 22, 2026
Assembly Resolution 1406 is a commemorative resolution honoring the reinterment of 44 Colonial-era patriots and civilians at the newly constructed Memorial Plaza and Columbarium at Lake George Battlefield Park in Lake George, New York, scheduled for May 22, 2026. The resolution recounts the historical background of the remains, which are believed to be individuals who died of smallpox while being treated at a Continental Army hospital near Fort George during the Revolutionary War and were later discovered during excavation work in 2019.
The resolution describes the recovery, analysis, and preservation of the remains by state and local partners, including the New York State Museum, archaeologists, historians, volunteers, and community stakeholders. It also notes the creation of the memorial site as a final resting place and place of public remembrance, and it references the ceremonial motorcade that will transport the caskets from Albany to Lake George before the public reinterment ceremony.
This resolution does not amend state law, create new regulatory requirements, or appropriate funds; its effect is ceremonial and commemorative. Its practical impact is to formally recognize the historical significance of the reinterment, acknowledge the work of state and local institutions involved in the recovery and study of the remains, and direct that copies of the resolution be transmitted to relevant organizations and officials. It also reinforces the public historical and educational role of Lake George Battlefield Park, the New York State Museum, and associated preservation efforts.
The overall sentiment surrounding the resolution is respectful, solemn, and celebratory of historical preservation and public remembrance. The language emphasizes honor, sacrifice, and the enduring legacy of the individuals being reinterred, and the absence of recorded opposition or votes suggests no evident controversy in the available materials. The resolution appears to have broad symbolic support as a tribute to Revolutionary War history and the community effort surrounding the burial site.
There is little to no apparent contention in the available record, likely because the measure is a nonbinding commemorative resolution rather than substantive legislation. Any underlying sensitivity is historical and ceremonial rather than political: the handling of human remains, the interpretation of the burial site as linked to the Continental Army hospital, and the coordination among state, local, and private entities required careful treatment. The resolution itself does not present a policy dispute, and no opposing viewpoints or recorded votes are provided.