The U.S. Senate has passed a bill to designate the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter in Oswego as a national park, The Citizen reports. Sponsored by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, the bill received unanimous support, marking a significant milestone in recognizing the site’s historical importance.
Fort Ontario was the only U.S. shelter for Holocaust refugees during World War II, housing 982 European refugees between 1944 and 1946. The Safe Haven Museum now preserves this history.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the vote a “major step” and urged the House to pass the bill before the current Congress ends on Jan. 3.
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