Legally Bond
Legally Bond
Summer Fun Series - An Interview with Michael Billok
In this Summer Fun Series episode of Legally Bond, Kim talks with labor and employment attorney Michael Billok about the rich history of Saratoga, New York. As the city prepares for the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Saratoga, considered the turning point of the American Revolution, Mike shares insights on the plans to commemorate the date on local and national levels.
Hello and welcome to Legally Bond, a podcast presented by the law firm Bond Schenick King. I'm your host, Kim Wolfe-Price. It's summertime here in the Northeast, a time for getting outside and, for many of us, a chance to visit local businesses, museums, historic sites and more. And today is the first episode in a special summer series Preserving history, learning about history, getting outside Saratoga Springs, New York, has many amazing opportunities for all of the above. Us history had some of its most pivotal moments in Saratoga Springs, New York, in the Capital Region, and that's why today, our first guest in the series is Mike Billick. Mike is a member in our Saratoga Springs and Albany offices. He practices labor and employment law, but Mike is also a member of the board of directors for the Battles of Saratoga 250th Anniversary Commemoration. Welcome back to the podcast, Mike. Thanks for joining us.
Speaker 2:Thank you very much for having me.
Speaker 1:I think that you are a good person to talk to, about anything that's great about the Saratoga region.
Speaker 2:I think that you are a good person to talk to about anything that's great about the Saratoga region. This is Lou Orbach. Recently joined us in Saratoga and said I'm kind of a Saratoga ambassador in terms of all the things I've sent him about where to go and what to do.
Speaker 1:I love it. I love it. Well, we'll be more specific today, but maybe we'll have an ambassador episode at some point. All right, so I'm really excited to learn more about this commemoration. When I did live out in the region, it was a place that I went to often. It was a good place to go outside, learn about history. So I'd love to hear about the commemoration and the work you're doing. I know Bond is also a sponsor of the events. Of course we can add that in, but before we do that, would you mind giving the listeners a quick overview or reminder on your background? You know whatever you'd like to share about where you went to undergrad law school and a little bit about your practice.
Speaker 2:Sure, so well. I'm a Navy submariner turned labor and employment lawyer, which is very common. I graduated from Naval Academy, went submarines, I served on the USS Nevada Gold Crew out of Bangor, washington, and after that came here. There's a nuclear power training unit nearby which surprises a lot of people that live in the area. They don't know that there's a nuclear reactor nearby, but it's to train sailors before they go on aircraft carriers and submarines about how to operate a nuclear reactor nearby. But it's to train sailors before they go on aircraft carriers and submarines about how to operate a nuclear reactor safely. And I was a shift engineer instructor there for two years and wound up found Saratoga to begin with from 2000 to 2002. And when I first came here in 2000, just felt like home. Then went down to DC and went to law school and worked down there in DC for several years but kept coming back to visit friends and eventually moved back up here in 2010, which is when I joined Bond.
Speaker 1:That's terrific. That's terrific. I mean, it is beautiful. It is a beautiful spot and it is funny when you live there and people tell you that the Navy is there and you're like we are very landlocked and unclear on how that is, but you are living, that we actually have that there as well and you just like this reminds us of your service and I'm wondering if that's what sort of inspired you to join the board and become active in the battles of Saratoga 250.
Speaker 2:I'd say it's not so much the service, it was more of just discovering Saratoga's role in the revolution in American history. You hear a lot of Saratoga's slogan is health, history and horses. And you get a lot of health with the springs and the water and everybody loves Saratoga water these days as well as horses and track season, but not as much with the history. Horses and track season but not as much with the history. And once I learned more of the role that Saratoga played in the revolution and commonly referred to as America's turning point, how pivotal it was and the fact that an organization was being formed basically to celebrate and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga, I was very interested in kind of helping get the word out. I was so fascinated by it that I figured that others should get that story as well.
Speaker 1:That's terrific, and so I guess that's a good point to say. Can you tell us what this is Like? Tell us about the Battle of Saratoga, right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so again, you know I was a physics major and a labor employment attorney, so I'm not as good as a historian, but just generally speaking, right, you think about the American Revolution, july 4, 1776. Everybody knows that Declaration of Independence and there were some early wins. But after that there were not by the time you get to you know the fall of 1777, new York City was occupied by the British. The British occupied Philadelphia by September of 1777. Congress had, the Continental Congress had to flee.
Speaker 2:It was really not looking good for the brand new country forces come down from Montreal and come up from New York City and also come from the West and kind of all meet around Albany, all meet around Saratoga to basically form a line and, quote unquote, cut off the head of the snake right, cut off New England, Massachusetts, boston, that hotbed from the rest of the colonies and kind of put an end to the revolution once and for all. And it was the bravery of those who fought and died at the Battles of Saratoga in September and October of 1777. It's pretty amazing just in terms of the fact that it was so pivotal that if there was a loss there it could have meant the end of the revolution to begin with, and the fact that the victory was so decisive it was the first time in world history that the British army ever surrendered to another country, right, and so that's absolutely huge. So you have that, and that was, when they call it, america's turning point.
Speaker 2:That victory helped convince France to become America's first ally, to become a military ally, provide gunships, money et cetera. That was very badly needed. So you have that aspect and then you have other. Just there's so many different stories because most people, when you hear the name Benedict Arnold, you thought oh yeah, he was a traitor. He was a huge hero of the Battle of Saratoga and it's fascinating. And the fact that he didn't get the credit for that was one of the things that kind of gnawed at him for such a long time that you know contributed to him turning traitor against the country.
Speaker 1:A good business lesson, maybe you know, give credit to people. So yeah, that's what I remember reading visiting the site, that it was Benedict Arnold and I was like, wait, my whole you know education. He was not. We never called him the good guy, right? So it's a really important piece. So you're about two years out from the actual anniversary and so the group that you're on the board of Battles of Saratoga 250, is really ramping up these celebrations and the information and the educational pieces. So can you talk a little bit about that group?
Speaker 2:Sure. So the Saratoga County formed a commission to start the process and decided that a not-for-profit, which is Saratoga 250, would be the best way to make that happen. So that not-for-profit was formed right will be a big celebration on October 17th 2027, but a very big education campaign with events leading up to that. You know one of the things that just released a book for a children's book. It's called Overhearing History. It's an illustrated story to help. It's kind of geared to fourth to sixth grade students and it's kind of funny.
Speaker 2:I was talking to Rob Manfredo about it. He had, without hearing about it, had already bought it for his son, and so there's events around that. We have partnerships with some distilleries for War Cannon Spirits and others that are kind of getting the word out. You know people are going. Oh hey, you know here's a patriotic whiskey that we can buy. There's other events that happen throughout the year. There are parade happening in Stillwater. Turning Point Parade happens every year and that's happening in August At the racetrack. There were individuals in Revolutionary Garden and we do have an actual working cannon that was there at track season during the July 4th festival. They'll be at the Saratoga County Fair. There's reenactments that are happening, and every year, you know, in October there's a first surrender day celebrating the anniversary of the sword surrender takes place as well, so a lot of activities going on.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's terrific. So it's through the city of Saratoga, saratoga County and, of course, the National Park, which is the battlegrounds, and people probably don't even realize that we have a National Park right there as well.
Speaker 2:And there's actually there's so many people that historians that enjoy kind of touring battlefields, famous battlefields, and don't necessarily recognize or know about Saratoga being a battlefield Right now it's named Saratoga National Historical Park and there's efforts in Congress to rename it Saratoga National Battlefield Park and so renaming it.
Speaker 1:That's great right, because it really tells the story more. Instead of that it's just a park, but why it was so pivotal and why it became a national park.
Speaker 2:Exactly, exactly, that's pretty amazing.
Speaker 1:So much going on. I'm going to volunteer right now. If you need any volunteer help, there's a UAlbany undergrad that I'll send you away, like if you need more. He will find that out if he ever listens, but just you just tell me. I love that there's a children's book and that it's all these different layers that's going on and that instead of you know, just a couple months before the Battles of Saratoga, 250 is really taking the time to educate everyone and make this as an important historical moment, as it really is for our country, pretty fantastic.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and doing things as well with other cities and areas that are also celebrating 250th anniversary. Right and America 250 for next year. There's a big year up there, the Iowa Fair but that was the start and it had to go on from there in terms of all of the war efforts.
Speaker 1:Right to go on from there in terms of all of the war efforts. Right, because there were so many of this sort of this, what we now have as the Interstate 90 corridor and, just north and south of that, so much happened here that shaped the future of the country Herkimer, oriskany, fort Stanwix and, of course, saratoga. It's fantastic. So when we talk about this event, there are ways for corporations to sponsor and other organizations. I want to put in a plug for that for all of you as well. So, if anyone is listening right, there is also a website for the Battles of Saratoga 250 that people can find out more information, correct?
Speaker 2:Absolutely Saratoga250.com and the number 250. So it's pretty easy to put in.
Speaker 1:And it's a great community event, but also statewide and national in many ways as well, because it was so important. If you haven't sponsored yet and you have money, you know it's not a bad idea. Well, I really thank you for taking the time to talk about it and I know as we get closer, we'll want to talk more about the really big celebration. You know that we're leading up to here, so thanks for previewing it. People should get out, enjoy all that there is in Saratoga, including the battlefield and all of the other pieces surrounding it, and, of course, it's always great to have you on the podcast, Mike. Hope you'll come back again soon.
Speaker 2:I think I will no. Thank you very much, thanks.
Speaker 1:Thank you for tuning into this episode of Legally Bond. If you're listening and have any questions for me, want to hear from someone at the firm or have a suggestion for a future topic, please email us at legallybond at bskcom. Also, don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to Legally Bond, where our podcasts are downloaded. Until our next talk, be well.
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