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Health & Fitness

Celebrating Camp Shanks - Commemorative Patch for Youth

Camp Shanks was built almost overnight in 1943 to serve as a transport hub for hundreds of thousands of soldiers, displacing over 100 families in the Orangeburg area. It later was used as POW camp and finally became “Shanks Village” as returning GIs lived, worked, raised families and helped to usher in Orangetown's lovely suburban character. Here's an article about the Camp. As 2013 is Shanks' 70 anniversary, I want to invite readers to a couple of great events...

To add to the fun, I have a commemorative patch for youth who take time to support Shanks events, learn some local history and meet veterans. To get the patch, which is a replica of the patch worn by the military transport soldiers who worked at Shanks, kids must give me a short essay answering the question, "What will you tell your friends about Camp Shanks?" after participating in one of the planned events and visiting a key site or two, such as the Shanks Museum or the Walkway of Heroes. Contact me at Town Hall (359-5100) or via email (astewart@orangetown.com) to participate.

SHANKS EVENTS:

Wednesday, August 14, 6:30 PM – Last Stop, USA, Embarkation Point
at Piermont Pier – There will be a ceremony held at the end of the Piermont Pier, Piermont, New York. At this event, a plaque will be unveiled, commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the creation of Camp Shanks, and the 68th Anniversary of V- E Day, the end of the War in Europe. Jerry Donnellen, from Rockland Vets, will lead the ceremony. Click here for more info about the Pier.

Sept. 22, 2013, 2 PM – Screening of “Till Then: A Journey Through World War Two Love Letters”
at Greenbush Auditorium, 20 Greenbush Rd., Orangeburg (behind Orangeburg Library), and reception at Shanks Museum, same location. Visit www.tillthenjourney.com to see a 2 minute film trailer. We'll have postcards to send to current soldiers serving overseas, as well.

Sunday, November 3, 1 – 3 PM – The Children of Camp Shanks Village at the DePew House Museum, 196 Chief Bill Harris Way (Blaisdell Road), Orangeburg – The public is invited to join a reunion of  actual adult “children of Shanks Village” and participate in a program highlighting the lives of the thousands of children who called Camp Shanks home during and after World War II. RSVP to the Museum at 398-1302.

Sunday, November 10, 10 AM Veterans Day Event and Military History Tour at the Walkway of Heroes Park, Lester Drive and Independence Avenue in Orangeburg – Join veterans from VFW Post 1516 for a guided tour of this wonderful Town park led by its founders. Then, hop aboard a driving tour of Orangetown’s military history sites including Camp Shanks, the Nike Missile base, Camp Bluefields “gun tunnels” and the Shanks Museum, among others.

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Examples of Sites to Visit: Shanks Museum, Walkway of Heroes, Piermont Pier, Town Hall Lobby exhibits, Orangetown Historical Museum, Camp Bluefields “gun tunnels” on Clausland Mountain, Nike missile base, Tappan historical sites.

The 70th Anniversary of Shanks is a great time to learn about Orangetown's military history, pay your respects to veterans, and foster a bit of home-grown tourism. I'd love to read comments about how we can further promote these important events and landmarks from anybody who is interested.

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