Dutchess County to Host 10th Annual
Veterans Appreciation Day on November 7th
Poughkeepsie… Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro and Division of Veterans’ Services Director Nelson Eddy Rivera, USN (Ret) invite residents to the 10th Annual Dutchess County Veterans Appreciation Day to celebrate all those who have honorably served our country on Saturday, November 7th. The event will be held at the Henry A. Wallace Center at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Home in Hyde Park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The highlight of the event is the Medal Presentation Ceremony beginning at 12 p.m. which will feature an Honor Guard presentation by the Hudson Valley Alumni Guard. Five veterans will receive awards: a 100-year-old veteran of World War II, two Vietnam War veterans and two Persian Gulf War veterans.
“Our Veterans Appreciation Day event is a chance to gather together as a community and thank the courageous men and women of our Armed Forces, both past and present, who have served our nation and earned our gratitude,” said County Executive Molinaro. “This event celebrates the service and sacrifice of our local veterans and connects them with resources available to them and their families.”
At this year’s event, there will be a special flag presentation. The United State Navy has sent flags that flew over the USS Roosevelt, adopted as the official warship of Dutchess County, to United States Congressman Chris Gibson and New York State Sen. Sue Serino. The Congressman and Senator will each present Dutchess County with flags and Director Rivera will read a letter from J.S. Reller, the Commanding Officer of the USS Roosevelt. The two flags will fly atop the Veterans Memorial Highway flagpole in Hyde Park and the Dutchess County War Memorial in Poughkeepsie for Veterans Day.
Director Rivera said, “I am pleased to share that in addition to our Medal Ceremony, we will have more than 50 agencies, organizations, and vendors available to provide veterans and their families with information and services. We are so grateful to each and every man and woman who has served our military. Our Veterans Appreciation Day event is just one of the many ways we honor and celebrate their service. There is a wealth of services available to our veterans and their families and we want to make it as easy as possible for them to access them.”
Staff from VA Hudson Valley HealthCare (Castle Point) will be on hand to register veterans for their Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Benefits and take photos for the Veterans Information Card (VIC).
Dutchess County Clerk Brad Kendall will also be on hand to issue the “Return the FAVOR (Find and Assist Veteran of Record)” Discount Program Card. The FAVOR card entitles veterans to discounts at more than 130 retailers and service businesses throughout Dutchess County. To get their FAVOR card, veterans should bring a copy of their Honorably Discharged Full-Time Active Duty Separation Papers (DD214, WD-AGO, NAVPERS 553, etc.) and a picture ID showing Dutchess County as their county of residence.
Event attendees can also take advantage of complimentary admission to the FDR Presidential Library and Museum as well as a complimentary viewing of the film, “A Rendezvous with History.” Additionally, Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Youth One Stop will be assisting with the collection of non-perishable food items for the Castle Point Food Pantry.
The Dutchess County Veterans Appreciation Day is open to all veterans and their families as well as the general public. This annual event is the first of several local Veterans Day events including the County’s Veterans Day event at the Dutchess County War Memorial on November 11th at 11am. Click HERE to read a separate release on the various Veterans Day events happening throughout the county. For further information, please contact the Dutchess County Division of Veterans Services at 845-486-2060 or visitwww.dutchessny.gov.
