Fort Lee Celebrates Thomas Paine's Birthday And Legacy

FORT LEE, N.J. -- The 279th birthday of Thomas Paine was celebrated on Saturday, Jan. 30 at Fort Lee's Public School #2.

Thomas Paine re-enactor Ken Miller talks to students at Fort Lee School 2.
Photo Credit: *Facebook*

Fort Lee students talking with "Thomas Paine."
Photo Credit: *Facebook*

Nicole Zappone

02/02/2016 4:00 a.m.

Thomas Paine and Fort Lee Revolutionary history came to life for a day for today's children of Fort Lee to see.

The event was sponsored by the The Fort Lee Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs and the Fort Lee Historical Society.

Ken Miller, the Thomas Paine re-enactor; troubadour Thaddeus McGregor; and Councilman Harvey Sohmer participated in the event as re-enactors.

Thomas Paine was a member of General Washington's 1776 Fort Lee army and witnessed the fall of Fort Washington from the bluffs of Fort Lee's Palisades. This is where he began writing the "American Crisis."

Sculptor David French from Beacon is sculpting a new statue of Thomas Paine in Fort Lee's Monument Park. Unveiling is expected within two years.

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