To the Editor:

As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, communities across the nation are reflecting on their local role in the struggle that gave birth to the Republic.

In the town of Guilderland, that reflection has taken organized and purposeful shape through the formation of the Guilderland 250th American Revolution Celebration Committee, a volunteer-driven initiative dedicated to commemorating the town’s Revolutionary-era heritage in a way that is educational, inclusive, and forward-looking.

The following people were appointed to the Rev 250 Committee at the 2026 Organizational meeting: Chairman Don Rittner, Co-chairman Aaron Mair, Gardner Gurney, John Haluska, Town Historian Mary Ellen Johnson, Christine Napierski, Gustavo Santos, Karen White, and town employees involved with the committee: Supervisor Peter Barber, Dave Jenkins, and Jessica Montgomery.

Guilderland’s Revolutionary story is often overshadowed by larger engagements at Saratoga and along the Hudson River corridor, yet the town and its surrounding region played a meaningful role in the broader military and civic mobilization that defined the war in New York.

In 1775, what is today Guilderland was part of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck and the western frontier of Albany County. Its farms, mills, churches, and crossroads were part of the supply chain that sustained the Continental Army. Local men answered the call to serve in militia units, and families at home endured the economic and social disruptions that came with war.

The Guilderland 250th Committee was formed to ensure that this local history is neither forgotten nor reduced to a footnote. Composed of residents, historians, educators, civic leaders, and community advocates, the committee’s mission is straightforward: to research, interpret, and celebrate Guilderland’s Revolutionary past while strengthening civic pride in the present.

The committee kicked off the celebration with the planting of two heritage apple trees near the Community Gardens off Route 146 last July [“Editorial: Planting History,” The Altamont Enterprise, July 17, 2025]. This spring, 15 more heritage apples will be planted.

From its inception, the committee has emphasized public engagement. The anniversary is not intended to be a single ceremony or symbolic proclamation, but rather a multi-year series of programs and projects leading up to and through 2032.

Among its proposed initiatives are public lectures and panel discussions at the Guilderland Public Library featuring regional historians who can contextualize Guilderland’s experience within the larger military and political campaigns of the Revolution. These events are envisioned to be accessible to all residents, with an emphasis on clear, engaging storytelling grounded in sound scholarship.

Another proposed project involves the identification and marking of significant Revolutionary-era sites within the town. While few original structures from the 1770s survive intact, landscapes endure. Old roadways, cemetery plots, and documented homestead sites provide tangible connections to the past.

The committee aims to collaborate with local historians and preservation organizations to install interpretive signage at key locations, giving residents and visitors alike a visible reminder of the town’s 18th-Century roots. A self-guided tour is also in development.

Education is a core priority. The committee plans to work closely to develop curriculum-support materials aligned with state standards. By connecting students directly to the history of their own community, the committee hopes to make the Revolution more immediate and meaningful. Essay contests, art projects, and student-led presentations are under consideration as ways to foster youth participation.

Public events will also play a central role in the commemoration. A signature kickoff event — a community-wide celebration barbecue featuring music, reenactors, local authors, and historical exhibits — is planned to launch the anniversary period on Aug. 15 at the Western Turnpike Golf Course Pavilion. Living history demonstrations, militia encampments, and colonial craft displays could provide immersive experiences for families.

Next year, the town will reenact the Battle of the Normanskill along with Schoharie County’s Battle of the Flockey on an exciting weekend event in August. Partnerships with neighboring municipalities may further broaden the scope and impact of these programs.

Importantly, the committee is committed to presenting a nuanced and inclusive history. The Revolutionary era was complex. It involved not only soldiers and statesmen, but also women managing households and farms, enslaved individuals seeking freedom, Indigenous communities navigating shifting alliances, slaves, and loyalists whose experiences were often fraught and difficult. By acknowledging these varied perspectives, the committee intends to present a fuller and more honest account of the period.

The work ahead is substantial, and the committee cannot accomplish it alone. Volunteers are essential to its success. Individuals with expertise in research, writing, graphic design, event planning, fundraising, and public relations are particularly needed.

However, no specialized background is required, only a willingness to contribute time and energy to a meaningful civic endeavor. Contact  me, Don Rittner, at to volunteer.

Community members can assist in a variety of ways: helping to organize events, staffing information tables, assisting with archival research, reaching out to local sponsors, or sharing family documents and stories that illuminate Guilderland’s Revolutionary past. Even modest contributions of time can make a measurable difference in advancing the committee’s goals.

Financial support will also be necessary. While the committee intends to pursue grants and sponsorships, grassroots fundraising and private donations will help ensure that events remain free or low-cost for the public. 

At its core, the Guilderland 250th American Revolution Celebration Committee is about more than looking backward. It is about reaffirming the civic values that animated the Revolution: participation, responsibility, and community. The 250th anniversary provides an opportunity not only to honor those who lived through the founding era, but also to consider what those principles mean today.

As preparations continue, residents of Guilderland are encouraged to become involved. Whether through volunteering, attending events, or simply learning more about the town’s 18th-Century history, participation will ensure that this anniversary is both commemorative and constructive.

Two-hundred-and-fifty years ago, ordinary people in this region confronted extraordinary challenges and helped shape a new nation. The work of the Guilderland 250th Committee seeks to honor that legacy in a manner worthy of the community they left behind, and to invite a new generation to take part in the ongoing story of American civic life.

Don Rittner

Chairman

Town of Guilderland 250th AMREV Committee