The mission of Friends is to be a support to the museum, to aid in fund raising for exhibits and displays, as well as assisting in drawing attention to the museum through programs, lectures and events. As the board of trustees, we are the elected board which helps direct the membership to facilitate the support mission of the non profit group.
They are what keeps our museum the wonderful place it is to visit. They are the smiling face that greets you when you enter the museum, and answer all your questions. We are keeping in touch with them during our closure, checking in with them, and we all hope we can re-open soon. One of our long-serving docents is Phil Imbarrato, he resides in Ballston Spa, and saw duty in the Army, in Korea during the Korean War.
Phil has been a docent since 2006, and is a native of the Bronx, NY. In 1963, he and his wife relocated to Ballston Spa, and raised a family of three sons, whom all reside in the local area, less than an hour away. Phil is also a proud grandfather of four children.
While attending college at City College New York in 1951, Phil was drafted into the military and finally was ordered to report for induction in January 1953. He had sixteen weeks of basic training at Fort Dix as an infantry man, and saw duty in Korea with the 64th Tank Battalion, 24th Infantry Division from June till October of 1953. During this time, one of his main responsibilities was guarding captured North Korean soldiers at Pusan.
After leaving Korea, Phil was transferred to Mount Fuji Army Base, Japan, where he was stationed there till January of 1955. Upon discharge, Phil had attained the rank of Corporal, and for his service in the military he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the U.N. Korea Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, and the R.O.K. War Service Medal.
After discharge, Phil returned to college at CCNY and earned a Bachelors Degree in Sales management in 1957.
After graduating, Phil entered the retail sales field, as a salesman and independent sales representative for several different office furniture companies, finally retiring in 1999.
In 1983, Phil was elected President of the Ballston Spa Lions Club, and he still is a member of that club.
While growing up in the Bronx, Phil played sandlot baseball with Rocky Colavito, famous right fielder with the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers, and who finished his career with the New York Yankees. Phil also was invited to try out for the Philadelphia Phillies as a third baseman, but his parents discouraged him from continuing that pursuit, and encouraged him to get a college degree.
While in the Army in Japan, Phil played third base on an Army baseball team with Eddie Bressoud, who later was a major league infielder with the New York Giants, San Francisco Giants, and Boston Red Sox.
Phil is another docent who served our country in the military, and also serves our community as a member of the Ballston Spa Lions Club.
5th Regiment NY Volunteer Infantry National Color 86” hoist x 83 1/2” fly Civil War.
From our conserved flag collection. The 5th Regiment, through Company H, received this National color from “some admiring ladies of New York” on 16 July 1861 at Clinton Hall in New York. The stars in the canton are arranged in a star pattern with the motto (partially lost) “ABOVE US, OR AROUND US” painted on a red ribbon on both sides. The flag is hand sewn and the stars are inserted into the canton rather than appliquéd. Approximately 25% of the flag is lost; at no single point is the flag complete from hoist to fly so the fly (width) measurement is an approximate.
Our newest exhibit, the 27th Division in Hawaii during World War II is now open for public viewing. This exhibit focuses on the early years of World War II for the 27th Division and their training in the United States before being deployed to Hawaii for further training during World War II. This temporary exhibit will be open for public viewing for the next few months. Please make a special effort to see this fantastic exhibit once the museum re-opens.
The museum is closed on
all New York State & Federal Holidays.
61 Lake Avenue
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
(518) 581-5100
Museum Store
(518) 226-0490
Due to staffing concerns the museum
can no longer accept telephone inquiries.
