New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs

National Guard Honors 'Old Kinderhook'

Soldiers Donate Time to Trees for Troops

Photo by Pvt. 1st Class Jeremy Bratt, Joint Forces Headquarters--New York

KINDERHOOK--New York Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Patrick Murphy (at left), Director of Joint Staff for the New York National Guard, and Chaplain (Col) Eric Olsen, New York State Chaplain, salute after laying a wreath at the gravesite of US President Martin VanBuren on Friday December 4th 2009.
The wreath laying, to mark the 227th anniversary of his birth on Dec. 5, 1782, is conducted each year by the New York National Guard at the request of the White House. Wreaths are laid on each president's grave on the anniversary of their birth.

Van Buren, who was born, lived and died in Kinderhook, was nicknamed "Old Kinderhook" by political supporters. Reportedly he signed approved paperwork with an "OK" which evolved into OK as a phrase indicating that things are good.

(Read the Press Release of This Event)

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