By Ilana Dubrovsky
MINISINK FORD — July 20, 2004 – The 225th Anniversary of the Minisink Raid and the Battle of Minisink featured a host of speakers and re-enactors.
On Sunday, the Sullivan County Historical Society – in cooperation with the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Upper Delaware Heritage Alliance, and the Navasing Long Rifles – sponsored the commemoration of the battle.
Master of Ceremonies and Chairman of the Sullivan County Legislature Chris Cunningham told his audience that residents should “rededicate ourselves in the cause of liberty. . . . We are here to reflect.”
Keynote speaker and county Veterans Service Agency Director Eric Nystrom gave his take on the event,
“It is a pleasure to see we never ever forget our veterans, no matter what generation,” he said. “It gives me goosebumps.”
Anthony Domingo, William Gronwald, John Masten, and Laurie Ramie then read off the names of the brave militiamen who risked and lost their lives during the bloody battle.
As each name was listed, a gong tolled in their memories.
Pike County Historian George Fluhr told the attendees that they should ask themselves why they were there.
He said, “We are here to live in peace. . . . Those most daring had come to the Upper Delaware region in hopes for a better life.
“To keep it in perspective – it took 43 years to gather the bodies where we now stand,” Fluhr continued.
The community members across the Delaware River in Lackawaxen, Pa. will continue their 30-year tradition in honoring an unknown soldier who presumably passed away fighting to cross the river after the battle. The service, organized by Fluhr, will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday at the grave site near the Zane Grey residence.
“Living back then was like living in today’s Iraq [or] Afghanistan. . . . Death was not uncommon,” explained Fluhr. “There was no freedom from want. It was not safe here. Marauding became a way of life.”
The day of remembrance was concluded with the veterans honoring the militiamen with a rifle salute.