Congratulations are in order to Governor Hochul and the Knickerbocker Greys. Her Honor has signed into law a requirement that the 7th Regiment Armory on Park Avenue must provide quarters to the Greys, the oldest patriotic youth organization in the country. By rights this should end the effort of the cultural conservancy that is the Armory’s main tenant to oust the armory’s last link to regimental glory.

We get that this can be passed off as a minor and parochial dispute. These columns have been one of the few defending the right of the Greys to remain at the armory at which they’ve been welcomed for more than 120 years. The Greys are a color guard of youths, who have their own smart grey uniforms and learn to present the flag, various standards, and guidons at military and community events. The tradition goes back centuries.