Today the United States Army and other branches of the military use the "Blue Book" as a standard of excellence when it comes to carrying out daily duties. On Sunday, June 26 National Park Service staff welcomes Kent Bolke, Curator of the 10th Mountain Division & Fort Drum Museum, to Steuben Memorial, Remsen, NY. Beginning at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Bolke and his museum staff will be discussing Steuben's impact discipline and order in the modern U.S. Army. "We are honored to present the legacy of such a dedicated man," says Bolke.
Baron Friedrich von Steuben was tasked with turning Washington's worn and starving Continental Army at Valley Forge, PA, into a disciplined fighting force during the winter of 1778. The end result: more sanitary camps, better discipline amongst the ranks, and easier to understand orders for use of drill and weaponry. These accomplishments are annotated in what became known as the "Blue Book." After his service at Valley Forge, Steuben served in the U.S. Army as Inspector General until the Revolutionary War's end. He retired to land in New York given as a pension for his service. Steuben died in 1794 and his original gravesite was unmarked, but his legacy remained strong.
Steuben Memorial State Historic Site is located between Starr Hill Road and NY Route12in Remsen, NY is currently open 7 days a week from dawn to dusk; the site's parking lot is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the site is free. Through a partnership between the National Park Service and the New York State Office Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, national park rangers provide visitor services as well as special programs at the memorial. For more information about upcoming events, please call Fort Stanwix National Monument at (315)338-7730 or visit the Fort Stanwix web page at www.nps.gov/fost.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
