Oh, 1813 was such a good year, at least looking back with 20-20 hindsight: "Uncle Sam" was first used to refer to the United States, pineapples were introduced to Hawaii, and, in the hot sun that July, soldiers and skilled workers from the then-village of Troy laid the first bricks and mortar for the Watervliet Arsenal.
As they worked, they looked toward the Hudson River for any possible threat. Brick by brick, they hurried to build the first of 10 buildings as soldiers stood guard over the 12-acre plot that would someday become "America's cannon factory."
There has always been a strong sense among the Watervliet Arsenal work force that their heart and soul, if not their DNA, is in every product that leaves the fence line. And so, as soldiers marched off to battle, so, too, did the arsenal work force. After all, the arsenal work force has supported our nation's military in every military conflict since the War of 1812.
At the end of the day, the Army-owned and operated arsenal is not an island. It is woven into the fabric of our great community. Its skilled work force wasn't imported from other states or countries; they came from the towns, villages and cities that make up New York's Capital Region.
As the arsenal celebrates its 200th anniversary today, the community should share in this historic event.
Happy 200th birthday to our arsenal.
John B. Snyder
U.S. Army
Watervliet Arsenal Public Affairs
Watervliet