Friends of Fort Ontario Website

Friends volunteers Chris Colasurdo and Mitchell Maniccia raise the flag on opening day at Fort Ontario.

Chris Colasurdo, Morgan Domicolo, and Mitchell Maniccia arrive at Fort Ontario on Saturday, May 29, 2010 to celebrate after the 99 day struggle to stop closing of the fort. Chris wrote letters to the Governor and members of the Assembly and Senate and appeared on television four times in support of the fort during the struggle. Morgan started a "Don't Close the Fort" Facebook Page within hours of receiving news that Fort Ontario was on the closing list. The Facebook page numbers over 7,000 subscribers, Mitch wore a French and Indian War 50th Regiment of Foot Grenadier uniform to school to rally support for the fort when he heard the news.

On Friday afternoon, May 28, the fort was notified that it was to open the next morning at 10 AM. With maintenance and other staff assigned to other parks Friends volulnteers, cleaned the restrooms, emptied garbage, swept out buildings and casemates, raised and lowered flags, pulled weeds, interpreted buildings, and provided information to tourists. Here Frank Calasurdo scrapes and paints the picket fence in front of Officer's Quarters 2.

Friends volunteer Chris Colasurdo answers questions for tourists.

Chris Colasurdo learns that there is no work in the army, they call it "Fatigue."

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