Ritchie Joins Senate Colleagues on Tour of Fort Drum

State Senator Patty Ritchie joined some of her colleagues including Senator Kemp Hannon, Senator John Bonacic, Secretary of the New York State Senate Frank Patience and Assemblyman Will Barclay for a tour of Fort Drum earlier this week.

The tour, hosted by Fort Drum Garrison Commander Colonel Dean Harrison and Garrison Command Sergeant Major Ryan Alfaro, included a helicopter ride over the ranges of Fort Drum, a simulated vehicle rollover and an inside look at how combat medics work under battlefield type pressures.

Earlier this year, Senator Ritchie welcomed the brave men and women of the 10th Mountain Division, including its Commanding General, Major General Walter Piatt to the State Capitol for her annual “10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum Day.” The event highlights the contributions of the Division to our national security, as well as the ways in which the installation benefits our regional and state economies. 

In addition, last summer, Senator Ritchie delivered $350,000 to local organizations to help strengthen Fort Drum and protect the installation from potential cuts.  

Fort Drum is home to more than 15,000 soldiers and 15,000 more of the soldiers’ family members. As the engine of the North Country economy, it has an economic impact of $1.2 billion dollars.

(Senator Ritchie is pictured with Senator Kemp Hannon, Senator John Bonacic, Secretary of the New York State Senate Frank Patience and Assemblyman Will Barclay, members of the 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum including Fort Drum Garrison Commander Col. Dean Harrison and Garrison CSM Ryan Alfaro on Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield on Fort Drum.)