New York State Military Museum Announces Events for first Quarter of 2015

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Band of Giants is a book on the Revolutionary War which will be the subject of a free presentation at the New York State Military Museum on Jan. 31.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY (01/05/2015)(readMedia)-- The New York State Military Museum will be hosting 11 events at the museum during January, February, March and April.

The events range from a veterans roundtable hosted by veteran Saratogian reporter Paul Post, to the annual "Night at the Brewseum" event sponsored by the Friends of the New York State Military Museum as a fundraising event.

The free programs will discuss books on the Revolutionary War, the history of submarines named U.S.S. Seawolf, and feature re-enactors portraying Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and John Quincy Adams.

The Friends of the New York State Military Museum will also be participating in the Annual Saratoga Chowderfest on Jan. 31.

The schedule of events is:

• Jan 24, 1:00pm – Veteran Roundtable – Paul Post, journalist for The Saratogian and author of Soldiers of Saratoga County: from Concord to Kabul, will lead a panel discussion with combat veterans from World War II through today's Global War on Terror relating their personal stories and experiences.

• Jan 31, 2:00pm – Band of Giants – Jack Kelly, author of Band of Giants: The Amateur Soldiers Who Won America's Independence, reviews the motley collection of men who fought for American independence and provides fascinating stories of some of the war's more colorful characters.

• Jan 31, 11am – 4 pm – 17th Annual Saratoga Chowderfest

• Feb 7, 2:00pm – John Quincy Adams and the Treaty of Ghent – Appearing as John Quincy Adams, Vince Puliafico will explore the Treaty of Ghent negotiations that ended the War of 1812 and try to answer what the US gained and who really won the war.

• Feb 21, 2:00pm – Seawolves – Ray Misciewicz, a nuclear engineer and expert on nuclear submarines, discusses the four U.S. Navy submarines named "Seawolf" that span from 1911 through today, chronicling their technological developments and the stories of the remarkable and courageous submariners who manned them.

• March 12, 7:00pm – The Long Walk – Brian Castner discusses his critically acclaimed book, The Long Walk, about his experiences with an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit in Iraq and his subsequent post-traumatic stress disorder. The book has been adapted into an opera and selections will be performed. Co-sponsored with Opera Saratoga

• March 14, 2:00pm – FDR and America on the Eve of War – As a renown reenactor of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Gary Stamm will explore from Roosevelt's perspective how militarily unprepared the United States was when war broke out in Europe, and how we had to play catch-up and did so in a miraculous way, even while greatly aiding England, while skillfully balancing the vocal anti-war segment.

• March 21, 2:00pm – Camp Followers of the Revolutionary War – National Park Ranger Jennifer Richard-Morrow shares stories of followers of the army on both sides of the American Revolution and how these brave women and their families served many important support roles, including mending and cleaning soldiers' clothing and caring for sick and injured soldiers. While they did not fight, camp followers shared all other struggles and hardships of the soldiers-freezing cold, scorching heat, extreme sickness, hunger, thirst, even military justice.

• March 27, 6pm-9pm – Night at the Brewseum – Sample a wide selection of the finest craft beers around along with food from local restaurants and caterers at the fourth annual Night at the Brewseum. The popular event sells out quickly, so order tickets by calling the Museum Gift Shop at 518-226-0490. Co-sponsored with Saratoga Lions Club

• April 4, 2:00pm – Battle of Plattsburgh – The Battle of Plattsburg is one of the most important battles in American history, and also one of the least understood. Keith Herkalo, author of The Battles of Plattsburg, September 11, 1814, provides an informative and entertaining narrative of this significant campaign.

• April 11, 2:00pm – Arnold or Gates? – National Park Rangers Joe Craig and Eric Schnitzer present a lively debate over who was the true hero in the Battles of Saratoga-Horatio Gates, commander of the American army, or Benedict Arnold, the army's fighting general. Hear both arguments, and join in to voice your opinion!

Located at 61 Lake Avenue in Saratoga Springs, N.Y, the New York State Military Museum is administered by the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs. It's collection focuses on New York's military history from the French and Indian Wars to the present day.