Green-Wood Cemetery and the Battle of Brooklyn Memorial Society, headed by Eric KramerIn the meadow adjacent to the landmark Gothic arch at the entrance ofGreen-Wood on the east side of Fifth Avenue at 25th Street, Revolutionary War re-enactors staged a short skirmish.Some of the re-enactors wore British uniforms and were on horseback; others were dressed as colonial militiamen.

Both sides carried and fired muskets.However, the colonial woodsmen rolled out a Revolutionary War era cannon and fired several blasts at the advancing redcoats.The conflict ended with the Brits closing in onthe colonial combatants as they retreated from the meadow.

Next on tap was a parade from the archway area to the top of Green-Wood’s Battle Hill, the highest geographic point in Brooklyn, led by the regimental band of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

A nice touch this year was theorganizers encouragedparade participantsto pick up one of the 85 Revolutionary War flags displayed along the parade route and bring it up to the hilltop for the commemorative ceremonies.

Prior to the start of the program, Governor Martin O’Malley from the state of Maryland mingled with the attendees and paid a brief visit to the nearby grave of the late John Gallagher who authored the book, The Battle of Brooklyn, 1776.

During the formal program, Governor O’Malley spoke about what it means to be an American and the sacrificesthe Maryland 400 made during the Battle of Brooklyn.Green-Wood Vice President Ken Taylor read selections from the Declaration of Independence.

The cemetery’s historian, attorney Jeff Richman, and Brian Horan * * *

On Saturday, the Society of Old Brooklynites, headed by its new president, Brooklyn Borough Historian Ron Schweiger, held its 105th annual memorial tribute to America’s first POWs, the Prison Ship Martyrs.

The patriotic exercises took part at the base of the 149-foot Prison Ship Martyrs Monument, at the top of the hill in Fort Greene Park.Society offices and members have been paying homage to 11,500 patriots that were incarcerated and died aboard British prison ships since its founding in 1880, first at the front of the crypt before the monument was erected in 1908, and then at the monument itself.

Bay Ridgeite and Sunset Park business executive Mike Spinner emceed the program which included a maritime piping ceremony; an interpretive dance by Craig GabrianBob FurmanRuth Goldstein and Charles Jarden of the Fort Greene Park Conservancy, and opera selections by Julianne Hamula of the Martha Cardona Opera company.

Former New York City Commissioner Myrtle Whitmore, apast vice president, and Bay Ridgeite Sherman SilvermanBesides helping coordinate the day’s event, this writer participated by striking eight slow bells at the end of the maritime salute. Forty feet below this towering monument are entombed the actual remains of 11,500 patriots.Our research indicates this is the largest burial site of the Revolutionary War.

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