Thursday, May 25, 2006
On Saturday, May 20th, Martin Van Buren National Historic Site was joined by communities from around the Albany (New York) Capital District to rededicate Lindenwald, the home and farm of the eighth United States president. After having been closed for over two years during a major preservation project, there was much excitement and anticipation for this reopening.
The afternoon dedication ceremony was followed by an open house and reception hosted by the Friends of Lindenwald. Those providing remarks included Mary Bomar, regional director for Northeast Regional Director Mary Bomar; Bob Worsfold, president of the Friends of Lindenwald; Joe Martens, president of the Open Space Institute; and Doug McGivney, supervisor for the town of Kinderhook.
Those attending included over 250 invited guests, seven Navy Veterans of the USS Lindenwald, the general public, and a Boy Scout color guard that came from a 400 Boy Scout “Camporee” held on the grounds of the park that same weekend.
A ribbon cutting ceremony included honored guests and Gordon Van Buren, who entered the site dressed in authentic 19th Century clothes to portray President Van Buren, while the music “Ruffles and Flourishes” and “Hail to the Chief” (actually played at his inauguration)was played by the Coxsackie Athens Community Band.
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