[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 108 (Monday, June 29, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E631]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING 200 YEARS OF SERVICE BY UNITED STATES ARMY GARRISON FORT 
                                HAMILTON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. NICOLE MALLIOTAKIS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 29, 2026

  Ms. MALLIOTAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the 
bicentennial anniversary of United States Army Garrison Fort Hamilton, 
a historic institution in my district that has served our Nation with 
distinction for 200 years and remains an enduring symbol of patriotism, 
military readiness, and public service.
  The grounds of Fort Hamilton hold a profound connection to the 
founding of our Nation. During the American Revolutionary War, the site 
served as a strategic defense position overlooking the Narrows. On July 
4, 1776, an American battery located there, then known as the Narrows 
Fort, fired upon the British warship HMS Asia in defense of New York 
Harbor. Just weeks later, British forces landed at Gravesend Beach and 
Denyse's Wharf, on what is now the footprint of Fort Hamilton, 
launching the campaign that culminated in the Battle of Brooklyn, the 
first major battle fought after the signing of the Declaration of 
Independence and the largest troop engagement of the Revolutionary War.
  Recognizing the strategic importance of the location, the United 
States Government laid the cornerstone for Fort Hamilton on June 11, 
1825. Named in honor of Alexander Hamilton, our Nation's first 
Secretary of the Treasury, and designed by renowned military engineer 
Simon Bernard, the fort was completed in 1831. Today, it stands as the 
fourth-oldest active military installation in the United States.
  For two centuries, Fort Hamilton has faithfully served our Nation. 
During the Civil War, it functioned as a critical Union fortification 
and training center. In both World War I and World War II, the 
installation played a vital role as an embarkation and separation 
center for American service members deploying overseas and returning 
home.
  In recognition of its historical significance, Fort Hamilton was 
designated a Historic Landmark on the National Register of Historic 
Places in 1974. Its rich legacy is preserved through the Harbor Defense 
Museum, the only Army museum in New York City, which safeguards and 
showcases artifacts spanning from the American Revolution through World 
War II.
  Today, Fort Hamilton remains the only active-duty military 
installation in New York City. It provides critical operational, 
logistical, and community support to more than 50,000 veterans, 
retirees, active-duty service members, and their families. The 
installation has repeatedly answered the call to support civil 
authorities during times of crisis, including following the terrorist 
attacks of September 11, 2001, during Hurricane Sandy, and throughout 
the COVID-19 pandemic.
  The year 2025 marked Fort Hamilton's 200th anniversary--a remarkable 
milestone that coincides with the United States Army's 250th birthday 
and serves as a bridge to our Nation's semiquincentennial in 2026. This 
celebration offers an opportunity to reflect upon the generation of 
soldiers, civilian employees, veterans, and military families whose 
dedication and sacrifice have strengthened both our local communities 
and our country.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring United States 
Army Garrison Fort Hamilton for 200 years of unwavering service to New 
York and the United States of America. May its proud legacy continue 
for generations to come.

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