Tannery Talk | History, Heroes & Bipartisanship

May 3 | 2 PM

Suggested donation at the door: $10

In 2021 and 2022, Adirondack resident Connor Williams worked for Congress as Lead Historian on their bipartisan “Naming Commission,” tasked with ending Confederate commemorations across our Defense landscape. He was also tasked with finding real American military heroes to replace them—ones so inspiring that they could secure unanimous support from the three Republicans, one Democrat, and four retired flag officers who served as commissioners. Connor and the Commissioners were successful in their work, finishing on-time, under budget, and with broad bipartisan support. All of their recommendations were accepted and enacted.

Williams will reflect on his experiences achieving bipartisan successes in our recent past, detail the new namesakes that the Commission selected, and explain what it all tells us about the power of the past to inspire our faith in the future. He will also talk about the two “local” heroes the Commission selected: WWI soldier Henry Johnson (from Albany), and Civil War doctor and equal rights activist Mary Walker, who was a native of Oswego.

Connor’s new book on his experience and the diverse examples of heroism that the Naming Commission elevated (A Promise Delivered) will be available for sale and signing immediately after the event.