In the Spanish-American War, in 1898, Spring Valley organized a military company. Walter Peck, a Spring Valley boy was with Dewey at Manilla and took part in the great naval fight on May 1,1898. He was a petty officer on the cruiser Baltimore. According to Admiral Dewey, this warship made "the most strategic piece of naval maneuvering the world has ever known by steaming past eight forts with modern guns in them." 

     Walter Peck had the honor of running Old Glory to the masthead at the beginning of the battle which began on May 1, 1989.