05/24/2026
Memorial Day, Monday, May 25th: Honor our Nation's Fallen Soldiers at the New Windsor Cantonment:
New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site invites the public to join in honoring our nation’s veterans with special Memorial Day programs, including a 18th century military funeral procession to the site’s Revolutionary War Veteran's cemetery, on Monday, May 25, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Throughout the day, historic interpreters in 18th century dress will be conducting blacksmithing demonstrations, musket drills, 18th century medical and surgical demonstrations, and more, performed at the original encampment. At 1:30 p.m. in the Temple Building, join staff for a talk on death and mourning in the 18th century, with special focus on the American Revolution and funeral practices in the Continental Army. This program will include display of a reproduction 18th century coffin laid out in state for a fallen officer.
At 2:00 p.m., join an 18th century military funeral parade and graveside service at the site’s Revolutionary War cemetery. The ceremony will be followed by a talk on the U.S. Civil War origins of Memorial Day. At 2:30 p.m., an 18th century military drill and artillery demonstration will take place. The soldiers will fire their muskets and a cannon on the "Grand Parade," the very field where George Washington's announcement of impending peace was first read to the Army over 200 years ago.
