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Honoring Commitment is This Year's Veterans Day Theme
by Edward Paul Greiff
 | | Dignitaries, Sergeant Ed Ulrich, Color Guard, Fire Department Contingent, Ambulance Corps, Scouts. |
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It didn't start out that way but the Putnam Valley November 11, 2007 Veterans Day ceremony held at the John Layman Veterans Memorial Park ended up as a tribute to all men and women in any uniform for the commitment they make once they put on that uniform.
The day started with the Girl Scouts from Troop 1362, Cub Scouts from Pack 53, and Boy Scouts from Troops 41, and 353 setting up the park for the day's ceremonies to follow. Mathew Brady and Thea Moeller set up the acoustics and sound system while Dawn Powell distributed copies of the day's program. VFW Post 391 Commander Robert Ulrich assembled the Color Guard and at approximately 11:11 am on 11-11-07 they led a contingent of Putnam Valley Fire Department and Ambulance Corps volunteers and Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts into the Memorial Park. The dignitaries were already seated and consisted of Town Supervisor Sam Davis, Putnam Valley Town Council members Priscilla Keresey, Wendy Whetsel, Dan Ricci and Bob Tendy, Putnam County Sheriff Don Smith, Assemblywoman Sandra Galef, Putnam County Commissioner of Finance William Carlin, Clem Van Ross for State Senator Vincent Leibell, and Putnam County Legislator Sam Oliverio.
Commander Bob Ulrich, a Vietnam War veteran, spoke about thanking those who help us defend against foreign and domestic threats.
State Assemblywoman Sandra Galef provided some shocking statistics about the plight of our New York State returning veterans when she said that 28,000 veterans have returned injured in New York State. She quoted that twenty-six percent of our homeless citizens are veterans. "Our veterans need medical, educational, housing, and job training care," said Assemblywoman Galef adding that she is trying to get them help. She asked each of us to say thank you in our own appropriate way.
County Legislator Sam Oliverio then spoke about the men and woman who put on a military uniform and make a commitment for several years. "During that time they may or may not go to war and see action overseas but regardless they have made a commitment for twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week for as long as their commitment is good for. They are caring and giving of themselves. God bless every one of them," concluded Oliverio. This was the first acknowledgement of commitment.
Supervisor Sam Davis took the podium and was talking when all of a sudden the fire alarm at the Firehouse started to sound off loud and clear with its coded signal calling all firemen available to report immediately. Fire Chief Bruce Johnson and a squad of firemen participating in ceremony broke ranks and began running towards the firehouse. The alarm was still blasting. Within minutes, the alarm stopped only to be replaced by the sounds of the sirens screaming from the fire equipment responding to the call.
The alarms and sirens only lasted for a few minutes, and the sight of the firemen running to respond only took seconds but coming as it did during the Veterans Day ceremony and paying tribute to our men and women in uniform it was a vivid confirmation of what Legislator Oliverio just finished talking about, "the commitment men and women in uniform make."
Emotionally shook by the episode that just happened, Supervisor Davis spoke with a lump in his throat and praised the firemen and reminded everyone that they do this every day and night, in all kinds of weather and at all times - they are men in uniform and they have made a commitment.
Memorial wreaths were presented, the cannon was fired and the crowd was dismissed. Some were going on to another ceremony at Lake Peekskill and then a luncheon at the VFW Hall.
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