Commending Six Nations Cemetery in the Town of Orange, New York upon the occasion of its addition to the New York State Historic Registry

Senate Resolution No. 2276

BY: Senator O'MARA

        COMMENDING  Six  Nations  Cemetery  in the Town of
        Orange, New York upon the occasion of  its  addition
        to the New York State Historic Registry

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense of this Legislative Body to commend the
efforts of  those  organizations  and  individuals  who  seek  to  bring
recognition  to  historical  places within the State of New York, and in
doing so, help to ensure that the complete  history  of  our  State  and
Nation is preserved and shared with present generations of citizens; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
commend  Six  Nations  Cemetery in the Town of Orange, New York upon the
occasion of its addition to the New  York  State  Historic  Registry  in
March 2026; and

  WHEREAS,   Six   Nations  Cemetery  is  the  resting  place  of  119
individuals, five of whom are veterans: David  Bevier,  serving  in  the
American  Revolution  and  the  War of 1812; John Rappleye, War of 1812;
George Shannon, Civil War; Zenas Preston, Civil War, and  Isaac  Potter,
Civil War; and

  WHEREAS, A dedication ceremony to honor the aforementioned veterans,
in conjunction with the celebration of America's 250th anniversary, will
be held Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the Six Nations Cemetery; and

  WHEREAS,  At this meaningful ceremony, the Daughters of the American
Revolution, the War of 1812 Daughters, and the Union Civil War Daughters
will present plaques recognizing each veteran's military service; and

  WHEREAS, The Six Nations Cemetery occupies a prominent  location  in
the   Town   of   Orange  at  the  pinnacle  of  Kelly  Hill,  within  a
rectangular-shaped parcel that extends southward from Kelly  Hill  Road;
the  parcel  is  bounded  to the south in large part by the Finger Lakes
Trail; to the west is an open field and to the east is County  Road  22;
and

  WHEREAS,   The   name  Six  Nations  applied  more  broadly  to  the
surrounding community and was perhaps  chosen  to  reflect  the  varying
nationalities  of  the  settlers and to acknowledge the Seneca nation of
the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, also known  as  The  Confederacy  of  Six
Nations, who occupied the land prior to Euro-American displacement; and

  WHEREAS,   With  a  truly  deep  and  storied  history,  the  extant
gravestones at Six Nations Cemetery mark burials ranging from  the  year
1818  up  to  1910;  more  than half the gravestones at the cemetery are
dated prior to the Civil War; and

  WHEREAS, The maintenance, restoration, and prosperity of Six Nations
Cemetery, as well as the remarkable efforts to secure its place  in  the
New York State Historic Registry, are due in part to support of The Town
of Orange, local Boy Scout Troop No. 45, and the Orange Town Supervisor;
and


  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative Body is pleased to have this opportunity
to express its highest admiration for the  committed  organizations  and
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
commend Six Nations Cemetery in the Town of Orange, New  York  upon  the
occasion of its addition to the New York State Historic Registry.