[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 11, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 A TRIBUTE TO THOMAS ``ARCHIE'' STEWART

                                 ______


                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 11, 1996

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, It gives me great pleasure to honor Mr. 
Thomas Stewart, affectionately known as ``Archie.'' I wish to extend 
this recognition to Mr. Stewart, for his invaluable contribution to New 
York's 20th Congressional District, and the greater Hudson Valley. It 
was through Mr. Stewart's leadership, vision, and generosity, that 
Stewart Airport, in Newburgh, NY, was built.
  In 1930, Mr. Stewart and his family donated a 220-acre parcel of land 
known as Stony Lonesome Farm, in memory of his grandfather Lachlan 
Stewart, for the development of an airport. It is truly remarkable that 
in these early years of aviation, Mr. Stewart had the vision to foresee 
the need for an airport in Orange County. But even he could not have 
predicted the impact that Stewart Airport has had over the years. Prior 
to World War II, partly through Mr. Stewart's own efforts, the U.S. 
Military Academy established Stewart Field for the flight training of 
West Point Cadets. The airport served as the first wings of West Point 
to serve cadets, and was later expanded for Army Air Corps operations 
and subsequently as a major U.S. Air Force Base. It served as an 
important airfield during World War II for the defense of the Eastern 
sector of the United States.
  After the Air Force base was closed in 1970, Stewart Airport 
converted to commercial use. Today, Stewart International Airport 
offers service to eight airlines, carrying over 800,000 travelers in 
and out of Stewart each year. It is rapidly becoming the fourth major 
airport for the New York metropolitan area.
  Mr. Stewart and his wife Mary, who have been married for 72 years, 
have spent their lives and raised their family in the Newburgh area. 
Today at 94 years of age, Mr. Stewart's presence remains an inspiration 
to his community. Recently, the members of the Stewart Airport 
Commission declared May 28, 1996, as ``Archie Stewart Day'' at Stewart 
International Airport.
  I was pleased and proud to have personally participated in this 
ceremony, at which I stated:

       Mr. Stewart and his family made a decision over sixty years 
     ago which has impacted the lives of countless Americans by 
     providing the land which became Stewart Airport, and then 
     Stewart Air Force Base, and finally Stewart International 
     Airport. Archie and his family helped make eastern Orange 
     County a hub of the Northeast. None of us will ever know how 
     many lives were saved by the Stewart family providing the 
     land for the airport which provided the training for our 
     cadets at West Point prior to and during WWII. No one will 
     ever know how many lives were impacted by the young men and 
     women coming to the area during the war to serve at Stewart, 
     and then staying and settling in the region, serving their 
     communities and contributing to the betterment of the Hudson 
     Valley. No one can measure the benefit that the hundreds of 
     commercial flights have had on Americans in recent years.

   Mr. Speaker, history is full of dynamic people who helped make a 
difference, but historians will tell us that our lives are shaped just 
as much by those individuals who do not necessarily appear in the pages 
of history books. This is why I am pleased to take this opportunity to 
formally recognize Mr. Stewart, whose efforts through the years have 
positively affected so many. Mr. Speaker, Thomas ``Archie'' Stewart has 
dedicated his life and land to serving his community and I ask that his 
efforts not be forgotten.

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