On Thursday, September 30 from 7-9pm, live music and a light show will be taking place one level below the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument at 89th and Riverside Drive.
The event is being organized by the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Association – with the purpose of “drawing attention to the urgent need for repairs to this iconic New York memorial.”
“Please join us for live period music and a lighting of the structure. These will be accompanied by a fascinating narrative of the history, current challenges, and [a] vision for the future for our Monument,” reads the event flyer.
Music will be performed by New Orleans Renaissance, an Upper West Side band which will play music from four eras and themes related to the monument’s history. The band will feature brass instruments, a keyboard, and a vocalist.
A Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Association spokesperson tells us that “The music will be augmented visually by a phased lighting of the Monument.”
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Admission will be free but they will be asking the public for a suggested donation of $25 per adult in attendance. This money will go towards restoring the monument to its old glory. Children are welcome at no charge provided they are under strict adult supervision. They ask those who attend to bring their own chairs and blankets.
A 2017 study found that approximately $30 million would be needed to fully repair the monument. While the City has dedicated hundreds of millions for other capital projects in and around Riverside Park – including $90 million for the 79th Street Boat Basin and $348 million for the Overbuild Bridges – the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument continues to be fenced off.
For more information on the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Association, please visit their FB page.
To whom it may concern,
I was glad to discover that the solders and sailors monument association is still in existence and again active. in my former capacity, as long time president of the west 89th street block association, i and my co president Pat Dale spent much time researching the monument history in order to lead tours/ lectures of the monument itself. our yearly block fairs always highlighted these tours. to aid in these lectures we had hundreds of historic solder’s and sailors images displayed throughout the entire monument. For years I scoured various pictorial museum archives collecting not only images but also significant newspaper articles relating to monument history. additionally I a mast a large collection of vintage memorial picture post cards. as a result of these tours and our increased efforts to publicized the monument we in conjunction with the solders and sailor’s assn? [then headed by George Chall], the west side federation of neighborhood and block associations land marks west and significant help from Gail Brewers office first brought back memorial day crowds to the monument. it also enabled the transformation of the area south of the memorial to change from a decerped poorly paved lot into beautiful best pocket park. although I have moved away from the city a number of years ago the solders and sailor’s monument it still near and dear to my heart. I would be delighted to help the cause any way that I can. if you are interested I am willing to donate my monument collection to your organization to again help publicized the monument. if you care interested please contact me Michael Levine at Callioonkeyglass@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you
cordually yours
MIchael Levine