A GoFundMe page has been started for the Congress Park statue that was found destroyed on July 16. Here’s how you can help, and a little background on this monument.
Statue Knocked Off Pedestal, Shattered
The statue of Captain Luther Wheeler was found in pieces at 3:30am on Thursday, July 16. It appeared to have been pushed off its base and then smashed into pieces when it hit the ground.
Wheeler was a Saratoga native and Union soldier who belonged to the 77th New York State Volunteers, also known as the Bemis Heights Regiment. He died in 1863 at just 22 years old after storming Marye’s Heights at Fredericksburg. He’s buried in Greenridge Cemetery in Saratoga Springs.
It’s believed Wheeler’s background may have contributed to the vandalism. Although there are security cameras in Congress Park there was not one pointed at this particular monument, and the investigation is still ongoing.
Local Organization Starts GoFundMe Page for Statue Restoration
The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW), a group dedicated to the preservation of the history and legacies of veteran heroes who fought to save the Union in the Civil War, is behind the GoFundMe page. As of this writing they have raised $2,295 towards their $20,000 goal. The SUVCW plans to work with the City of Saratoga Springs to make this restoration possible.
The page says: “The goal for this campaign is a rough estimate while the particulars of the project are still being worked out. Monies raised for this project will be donated to the City of Saratoga Springs specifically for this project.”
