LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Fort
Ontario Emergency Refugee Shelter in Oswego, New York

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize the
efforts of those organizations that seek to illuminate historical time
periods, places and events within the State of New York and, in so
doing, help to ensure that the complete history of our State and Nation
is preserved, to be shared with present and future generations of citi-
zens; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 70th Anniversary of the Fort Ontario Emergency Refugee Shelter
in Oswego, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Safe Haven Museum and Education Center will celebrate the
70th Anniversary of the arrival of the 982 refugees who arrived at Fort
Ontario from Thursday, June 19 to Saturday, June 21, 2014; and
WHEREAS, To further commemorate this Anniversary, the Jewish Motorcy-
cle Alliance selected Safe Haven Museum and Educational Center as the
location for their annual Ride to Remember that supports and promotes
Holocaust education and awareness; and
WHEREAS, During the Second World War, President Franklin D. Roosevelt
announced his proposal to create an emergency shelter at Fort Ontario
for war refugees on June 12, 1944; this was the first and only refugee
center established in the United States during World War II; and
WHEREAS, To carry out President Franklin D. Roosevelt's order, Secre-
tary of the Interior, Harold Ickes, sent Special Assistant Ruth Gruber
to Italy to bring back war refugees to the United States; it took over
two weeks to cross the rough Atlantic Ocean, however, according to docu-
mented accounts from the refugees, the hardship of the journey was well
worth the wait when the refugees first caught glimpse of the Statute of
Liberty; and
WHEREAS, In the early morning of August 5, 1944, the 982 men, women
and children from war torn Europe arrived at Fort Ontario in Oswego; and
WHEREAS, The 982 refugees were from 18 different countries in Central
Europe that were liberated from the Nazis; most of the refugees were
Jewish and priority was given to those refugees that were in concen-
tration camps and had escaped or who lost relatives in the Holocaust;
and
WHEREAS, Due to their undefined immigration status, refugees were not
allowed to leave Fort Ontario, however, the Oswego Community welcomed
these guests; over time, children were allowed to attend schools and the
refugees were permitted daily access into the City of Oswego; and
WHEREAS, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited the refugees at the Fort
Ontario Emergency Refugee Shelter on September 20, 1944; and
WHEREAS, Advocates for the refugees at Fort Ontario Emergency Refugee
Center petitioned Congress and the President to grant the refugees immi-
gration status; their persistence paid off as President Harry Truman
signed an Executive Order allowing the refugees to remain in the coun-
try; and
WHEREAS, In January and February of 1946, the refugees made the
historic trip across to Canada and back into the United States to
receive their immigration visas; and
WHEREAS, The stories of these 982 men, women and children is a story
of tragedy, suffering and the will of the human spirit; it is an impor-
tant piece of our history that should be retold for generations to come
and never forgotten; and

WHEREAS, In 1989, the Save Haven, Inc. was founded with the mission of
honoring and keeping alive the story of these brave 982 refugees who
survived the terror of the Nazi reign during World War II; on October 6,
2002, the Safe Haven Museum and Education Center was dedicated in the
former Administration Building for the Fort Ontario Emergency Refugee
Center; and
WHEREAS, The quality and character of our great Empire State is great-
ly enhanced by institutions that engage communities in the exploration
of New York's history and culture, instilling in them a deep appreci-
ation for the richness and breadth of our cultural heritage; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is pleased to have this opportunity to
express its highest admiration for the Safe Haven Museum and Education
Center, and for all of the individuals who have worked to bring proper
attention to a place and time which merits recognition in the grand
panorama of the history of our State and Nation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Fort Ontario Emergency Refugee
Shelter in Oswego, New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Safe Haven Museum and Education Center.