Department of NY VFW Donates $5,000 to Support Friends of NYS Military Museum’s Global War on Terrorism Campaign
The Friends of the New York State Military Museum announced recently that the Department of New York VFW has donated $5,000 to the Friends’ ongoing Global War on Terrorism campaign to recognize and honor the military service of New Yorkers since the 9/11 terror attacks.
The donation was made in the form of a check presented by leaders of the Department of New York VFW to members of the board of trustees of the Friends at the group’s inaugural fundraising golf tournament, held Sept. 23 at McGregor Links in Wilton, Saratoga County.
“On behalf of the board of trustees of the Friends of the New York State Military Museum, I’d like to sincerely thank each volunteer, sponsor and participant who supported our golf outing,” said board President Mark O’Rourke. “Your help and generosity were crucial to the resounding success of this inaugural event which will help the Friends — a trusted non-profit organization — continue to serve as a pillar of support to the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. Together, we will work to honor the courageous service and sacrifice of servicemembers from New York who have served our beloved state and nation over the generations.”
In partnership with the museum, the Friends group is developing a new recognition and honor campaign dedicated to the Global War on Terror (GWOT). This important addition will honor the service and sacrifice of the men and women from New York who have served since Sept. 11, 2001 — many of them our neighbors, family members and friends.
This initiative reflects the Friends’ mission to preserve contemporary military history with the same reverence as in the past. Support from individuals and organizations such as the Department of New York VFW will help ensure that the stories of this generation are remembered, respected, and shared with future visitors.
Launched on Dec. 6, 2025, the Global War on Terrorism Campaign is raising funds in support of the military museum’s new exhibit recognizing New Yorkers who served during the GWOT. The exhibit being installed at the museum located at 61 Lake Ave. in Saratoga Springs will be officially unveiled in early November.
The campaign is also raising funds for a traveling GWOT exhibit, a New York GWOT veterans memorial, a statewide oral history program and a statewide lecture series of public talks that illuminate the post-9/11 era’s diplomatic, financial and military actions taken to counter terrorism.
In addition, on Sept. 23, the Friends hosted its first golf tournament to raise funds to support the museum’s GWOT initiatives. The event held at McGregor Links in Wilton raised nearly $14,000, with a total of 112 golfers in 28 foursomes participating.