About a dozen people gathered in the churchyard of Trinity Church in Lower Manhattan to mark the 207th anniversary of the death of Alexander Hamilton, first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.

 Canon Anne Mallonee, Vicar of Trinity Wall Street, spoke of Hamilton’s continued relevance.

 “His beliefs affect our daily lives to this day,” Mallonee said. 

Arthur Piccolo of the Bowling Green Association organizes a wreath-laying twice each year at Hamilton’s grave, on Hamilton’s birthday, January 11, and on July 12, anniversary of his death in 1804 from wounds suffered in a duel with then Vice President Aaron Burr. 

Piccolo reminded those present “you are standing in the exact spot where thousands and thousands of New Yorkers gathered for his funeral.” 

Felicia Persaud, publisher of News Americas Now, attends the wreath-laying ceremonies as a way to honor a fellow Caribbean-American. Alexander Hamilton was born on the island of Nevis.

Persaud says Hamilton’s fame and accomplishments after coming to the American colonies as “an orphan with absolutely nothing at all shows that anything is possible.” 

Arthur Piccolo added that one of the many accolades bestowed on Hamilton over the years is “America’s Greatest Immigrant.” 

James Melchiorre is senior producer for Trinity Wall Street.