DESCENDANTS OF BATTLES OF SARATOGA SOLDIERS SOUGHT The Victory at Saratoga committee is seeking the names and addresses of living descendants of soldiers who fought at the Battles of Saratoga in September and October of 1777. These individuals will lead the citizens surrender march from the Saratoga monument to Fort Hardy Park on Saturday, October 19, in commemoration of the 225th anniversary of the battles of Saratoga. Please send names, addresses and phone numbers to Pat Peck 518-584-4129 178 Wagman’s Ridge <[log in to unmask]> Saratoga Springs NY 12866 Channel 13 news anchor Ed Dague will emcee the program at Fort Hardy Park, which is a recreation of the famous “Surrender of General Burgoyne” painting by John Trumbull that hangs in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capital. Members of the Schuylerville community will portray the depicted American and British officers. The living tableau harkens back to earlier surrender commemorations of 1877 and 1927. A patriotic fireworks display will conclude the 225th anniversary celebration. On October 17, 1777, the British General Burgoyne surrendered to the American General Gates in Schuylerville. Over 6,000 British and German soldiers marched out of the camps located through out the village to Fort Hardy where they stacked their guns. The surrendering troops were then marched through the American Lines and past the 20,000 patriot soldiers amassed after the two Battles of Saratoga. This was the first time that a British Army had surrendered in over 200 years and was the first large-scale victory for the Americans in the Revolution. This “Turning Point” proved to the French that the Americans could fight. Within months, the French came to our aid with badly needed supplies and weapons, troops and the French Navy. For a list of activities during the next month visit the 225th Anniversary of the Surrender of Burgoyne Visitors Center & Exhibition Hall in Olympian Hall, 76 Broad Street, Schuylerville which is open Wednesday – Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., go to the web page www.victoryatsaratoga.com, or call 695-6776.