Two hats for Matt Nordt, one of them three-cornered

Matt Nordt with founding member Joe Ryan and Isaac Wynn
June 11, 2010
by Christine Yeres

Matt Nordt is a familiar face around New Castle.  That’s him in the baseball cap, working the day camps, chess, teen and youth programs over the last two and a half years for New Castle Recreation and Parks Department.  But on Memorial Day, Nordt appeared in his three-cornered hat as a member of a “Living History”  group of Revolutionary War re-enactors, as First Sergeant of the 5th New York Regiment, its second-in-command.

“Mourn Arms” Ceremony for Memorial Day dates to the Revolutionary War

At the noon service at the Chappaqua train station on Monday, May 31, members of the 5th Regiment performed a military ceremony to honor the dead that dates from the 1700s. “ ‘Mourn Arms’ is a command to render honors to comrades who have fallen in service to their country,” explained Nordt. “It is performed at memorial services to recognize those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.”

After firing a musket volley in front of the train station, “the regiment files onto the green in front of the memorial in a column of two’s, waving the regimental flag to show that we are present,” Nordt pointed out. Then, in unison, each soldier turns his musket upside down, resting the barrel on one toe, with his right hand on the butt of the rifle.  The soldiers bow their heads, remove their caps with their left hands, pause with flags down to mourn the dead, then stand back at attention, flags flying again, and take up their muskets as taps is played. 

Sun bakes soldiers in Revolutionary War garb

For New Castle’s Memorial Day Parade, May 31st this year was hot and sunny; everyone but the 5th Regiment was clad in summer clothes. The Regiment sported their authentic woolen jackets.  “As historians tell us and people wrote in their journals,” noted Nordt, “the uniforms were hot in summer, cold in winter. The coats are made of wool, sometimes with a linen lining. They’re really hot in warm weather, and in the cold weather they don’t keep dampness out or help against the wind.” 

Of the Regiment’s 100 members, 65 are men-at-arms, or soldiers; the remainder consists of artisans, distaff, children and camp followers. In real life, members are mainly teachers and school personnel, retired military and members of law enforcement predominantly from the Hudson Valley.  These re-enactors attend two or three events each month year ‘round, many by invitation-only. 

Formed in 2001, the Living History re-enactors of the 5th New York Regiment are dedicated to depicting the life of common American soldiers during the War of Independence. Under “suggested equipment,” the Quartermaster’s page of the 5th New York Regiment’s website lists such necessities as “black powder, haversack kits, pewter buttons, muzzle stopper, French flints, English flints and pickering tools as well as a book for women titled, “Whatever Shall I Wear?” The Regiment is always looking for members to join up. “We’re especially looking for drummers and fifers,” said Nordt.  The Regiment’s website is http://www.5thny.org/

The Regiment travels all over the East coast, but performs mainly in the Hudson Valley area, from which the original 5th Regiment recruited and where it did the bulk of the fighting during the Revolutionary War. 

In real life, Matt Nordt lives in Danbury with his wife Pattianne and sons JJ and Conner, who was born on Memorial Day this year right after the parade. How’s that for being a considerate patriot?

5th NY Regiment, Left to Right:  Matt Nordt, Joe Ryan, Tom Conner, Jim Johnson, Ray Hanlan, Gary Pettijean, John Svibruck, Tom Meyering, Fred Compramisso, not pictured - Matt Wynn