History thrives at Liberty Weekend

Three cheers for the red, white and blue.

Liberty Weekend, sponsored by Friends of Historic New Utrecht, returned to the grounds of Bensonhurst’s New Utrecht Reformed Church on Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, bringing families of all ages together to revel in the history within their own backyard.

The star-spangled event consisted of Revolutionary War re-enactors, historical exhibits and displays, as well as a tour of the Old New Utrecht Cemetery and several other activities. A highlight of the fun-filled weekend was a ceremony at the Liberty Pole honoring the 232nd Anniversary of the raising of the first Liberty Pole at the end of the Revolutionary War.

“It went very well; the weather certainly cooperated,” said David Elligers, president of the Friends of Historic New Utrecht, adding that – as always – to kick-off the weekend, neighborhood schools gathered on Friday to enjoy a special performance by the re-enactors. “We had students from five different schools – a total of 399 kids. They enjoyed the re-enactors.”

Re-enactors – including the Royal Highland Regiment, the famous Black Watch, new to the event, George Washington, and more – interacted with the public on the church lawn.

“I thought the event was very pleasant,” Elligers went on. “People seemed to enjoy it.”

The free event was sponsored, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development, and allocations from Councilmembers Vincent Gentile and Mark Treyger with additional funding from the Verizon Foundation and P.S. 205’s Penny Harvest team.

The New Utrecht Reformed Church is located at 18th Avenue and 84th Street.

BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photos by Arthur de Gaeta

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