Press Release: NYS, January 12, 2001

The Governor announced his 2001-2002 Executive Budget will propose funding for several significant heritage preservation projects including $1 million in support to complete New York State's World War II Monument and $200,000 to continue the Governor's efforts to restore New York State's historic battle flag collection.

In addition to support for these two projects, the Governor's Budget includes $10 million to support his Heritage Trails program, including the establishment of a new Revolutionary War Heritage Trail an initiative he called for in his 2001 State of the State Address.

"The creation of the World War II memorial and the restoration of our historic battle flag collection will forever remind us of the courage and patriotism of thousands of New Yorkers who served their State and country," Governor Pataki said. "While no monument or battle flag can fulfill the tremendous debt we owe our veterans, we can honor their service by preserving these timeless symbols of their courage and dedication in defending the freedoms we now enjoy."

The Revolutionary War trail would join the Women's Heritage Trail and the Theodore Roosevelt Heritage Trail to become the third such trail initiated by the Governor to promote tourism across the State and to teach our children about the importance of our history and the freedoms we enjoy today.

Lieutenant Governor Mary O. Donohue said, "The men and women who served our nation in World War II deserve the tribute and lasting recognition this memorial will belatedly bestow upon them. The freedoms we have today exist because of the incredible sacrifices made by thousands of our veterans, and we are proud to support these projects in their honor."

New York State's World War II Memorial - $1 Million in New Funds

The Governor will include $1 million in his 2001-2002 Executive Budget for New York State's World War II Memorial, which will honor New York State's World War II veterans. The Monument is expected to be completed by the summer of 2002. To date, $400,000 has already been provided by the State for design and development work since the Governor signed legislation to create the Monument in July 1998.

The monument, which is being built at the Empire State Plaza, reflects the Governor's continuing commitment to the State's 1.5 million veterans. Previously, the State has erected other monuments in and around the Plaza honoring veterans of the Vietnam and Korean wars. A memorial to New York's women veterans was also completed in 1998.

In December of 1999, Governor Pataki announced the State would provide $1.7 million to support the creation of a national monument honoring veterans of World War II.The national World War II Memorial will be built on the National Mall in Washington D.C., at a site between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.

Battle Flags Restoration - $200,000 in New Funds

The Governor's Budget will include $200,000 to support ongoing efforts by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs (DMNA) to preserve and archive New York State's historic battle flag collection.

In 1997, OPRHP began surveying all the flags in the New York State Capitol and examining and photographing the collection. The survey report recommended a program of care for the flags and the development of a flag archive to insure the flags' long-term preservation.

The New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs (DMNA) has been responsible for the care and interpretation of an important collection of military artifacts since 1863. A significant part of this collection is a group of nearly 1,700 military flags dating from the War of 1812 through the Gulf War of 1991. More than 60 percent of the flags are Civil War flags.

Originally displayed in the Capitol Flag Room in 1885, the flags were moved to the first floor of the State Capitol in 1940. They are an invaluable resource for information on military units, flag design, and flag manufacture. These fragile and worn banners are also a tangible reminder of the courage and patriotism of those New Yorkers who served their State and country.