Ritchie to Host 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum Day Tuesday at State Capitol

For the third consecutive year, State Senator Patty Ritchie will host 10^th Mountain Division and Fort Drum Day at the State Capitol on Tuesday.

The day-long event will celebrate the commanders and soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division for their ongoing role in our nation’s defense, as well as the post itself for the key role it plays in the region’s economy.

“Each and every day, the brave soldiers of the 10^th Mountain Division make tremendous sacrifices to defend our freedom and I’m thrilled to once again have the opportunity to recognize the post and its troops,” said Senator Ritchie.

“Not only is this an opportunity to honor them for their selflessness, it’s also a chance to remind my colleagues of the importance of Fort Drum, not to just our nation’s defense, but also to the communities I represent in Central and Northern New York.”

Included in the day-long event will be an address by Brigadier General Michael Howard, an opening of the day’s Senate Session by the Fort Drum Color Guard, displays in the halls of the Capitol hosted by the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization and active military displays by Fort Drum soldiers. 

Home to 38,000 soldiers and family members, Fort Drum is the largest Army post north of North Carolina and east of the Mississippi River. In addition, the post also employs nearly 5,000 civilians and supports tens of thousands of jobs off base to support the North Country economy. According to a recent economic impact study, it was estimated that Fort Drum pumped more than $1.4 billion into the North Country economy last year.

Senator Ritchie has been a strong advocate for Fort Drum; securing budget funding to address a critical, regional housing shortage threatening continued growth of the post, and to help protect the facility in the event of new federal military budget cuts. In addition, on Friday, the Senate approved a budget plan included $2 million to help protect and defend Fort Drum in the face of federal defense cuts.