Two Significant Presentations Made at Harrison Town Board Meeting
By Stephen E. Lipken
At the Town Board meeting on October 16, Harrison Supervisor/Mayor Richard introduced Veterans’ Liaison Rocky Consigliere, who then spoke to the board. He told them that any veteran who has lost friends fighting overseas and wondered why he was able to come home when others didn’t will never be able to answer that question. The only thing a veteran can do is “try to live the best life you can – a life of meaning and of value and purpose.” He said that being able to represent the veterans of Harrison has given him a great purpose. His mission and goal is to unite the veterans of Harrison and to make sure that they’re appreciated, and he wants to make Veteran’s Day more special so that they will know that they’re appreciated. He then thanked Catherine Tammaro, Community Services and Veterans Affairs, remarking, “No one does as much for veterans as Harrison.”
Dionisio then invited Co-Historian Jean Taplett to give a presentation of potential activities to celebrate the Town/Village’s role in the Revolutionary War and the birth of the United States. She related that last July she was invited to a meeting in July in the Town of Harrison as part of a steering committee for the Rye 250 Revolutionary Committee, which a lot of luminaries, such as the presidents of the two colleges in Harrison (Manhattanville University and Purchase College), NYS Senator Shelley Mayer, and a lot of other politically active people, also attended. Since Harrison did not have a “seat at the table,” Mayor Dionisio agreed that Ms. Taplett should pursue information on behalf of Harrison. Her research showed that all of the Revolutionary War activity in the area took place in Harrison; none of it took place in Rye. Since the next meeting is in April, Harrison has some catch-up time to claim its stake in the project.
Ms. Taplett noted that the celebration, which was chartered by Congress in 2016 and will take place on July 11, 2026, will be a big one. Some things that she highlighted about Harrison’s role in the Revolutionary War included that the Revolution Heritage Trail winds through West Harrison, the Battle of White Plains took place on Merritt Hill in West Harrison, the first reading of the Declaration of Independence, which took place in White Place, was delivered by someone from Harrison, and Major General Thomas Thomas, a key figure in the Revolutionary War, lived in Harrison.
Ms. Taplett stated that some of the things that she feels Harrison can focus on for the celebration can be paid for by grants and perhaps donations, such as a grant from NYS to put signage up on the Heritage Trail. Also, the Harrison Historical Preservation Committee is going to be putting together a presentation and perhaps a traveling exhibit that can be brought to the schools; something may be put in the library as well. Additionally, the celebration can be incorporated into the Fourth of July and It’s Great to Live in Harrison celebrations.
The Board also approved the construction of sidewalks on Union Avenue.