Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Association (SSMA) is a volunteer Park User Group dedicated to preserving the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument at 89th Street, and to honoring those who served our nation.
The monument underwent a complete restoration in 1962 at a cost of more than a million dollars. The year 2009 saw a beautiful reconstruction of the South Plaza and replanting of the grounds. At present, a conditions study is required to fully assess the next phase of restoration to the monument itself. To ensure the preservation of this historic landmark, and honor the memory of the fallen, the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Association is seeking the support of the monument’s friends and neighbors.
The SSMA also raises funds for, and hosts, the annual Memorial Day ceremony at the monument. Since 2004 the monument has served as the site of the city’s largest Memorial Day observance, honoring all those who have served our nation in war. Hundreds of New Yorkers, as well as local leaders, veterans, and members of the armed forces, attend each year.
In the Mayor’s Office of the City of New York’s 2024 budget, $62.3 million was included in funding for the restoration of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument and Plaza in Riverside Park.
This huge milestone comes after years of advocacy from Riverside Park Conservancy, elected officials and the public. Among the project’s most active champions has been Council Member Gale Brewer, who launched a petition to save the monument last year that garnered thousands of signatures. Read more here.