On Friday, November 7th, the Town Of Clarkstown held its annual Veterans Day
ceremony and luncheon. Hosting this annual event is one of the most rewarding parts of
being Town Supervisor. Our veterans deserve an immense amount of respect and
gratitude for their service to our country, a service they provided knowing that any
moment their lives could be on the line, and for those who served in combat, that was
an all-too-real reality. On Veterans Day, we express our eternal gratitude for each and
every one of our brave men and women who served this great nation.
It is extremely important for our veterans to know that we appreciate the priceless gift
they have provided to us, a gift that maintains our nation’s most precious possession,
our freedom. This is what makes Veterans Day such an important and special day- it is
a reminder to say thank you to those who have provided us with the freedom we cherish
so dearly as Americans. It is something we sometimes take for granted, but something
which must never be forgotten.
As the son of a Korean War Veteran, I’ve always had a deep respect for veterans and
their families. Now as Supervisor, I’m proud to lead a town that is always looking for
ways to recognize and help those who served.
Clarkstown was the first town in Rockland County and one of the first on the east coast
to start a military tribute banner program that honors our veterans in our downtowns.
We now have over 300 banners displayed annually in 6 different hamlets. Our Street
School Community Center is home to the “Hall of Heroes” tribute to our veterans. It is
also home to the Promenade of Heroes, which houses a memorial tree and plaque for
each of our nation’s conflicts. We spotlight our veterans in a segment on my TV show.
We opened a veteran’s center in town hall; and every year before Thanksgiving,
Clarkstown hosts a Veterans Turkey Dinner giveaway. These are just a few of the ways
we try to express our gratitude.
This year, we mark some remarkable milestone anniversaries in our nation’s military
history, dating back to the days of the American Revolution. In June, we celebrated the
250th anniversary of the United States Army; in October, we honored the Navy’s 250th
year in service, and just yesterday, we marked the same milestone for the United States
Marine Corps. Each of these branches of service celebrating their 250th anniversary
this year have been critical in securing and maintaining our nation’s freedom.
The U.S. Army is the oldest and largest branch of the U.S. military, founded as the
Continental Army on June 14, 1775 by the Second Continental Congress. The following
day, George Washington was appointed as the Commander-In-Chief. Months later, on
October 13, 1775, the Second Continental Congress founded the Continental Navy. The
organization was ultimately disbanded in 1783, but its legacy led to the creation of the
modern U.S. Navy in 1794. And finally, the Second Continental Congress established
the Marine Corps on November 10, 1775, when it commissioned two battalions of
Continental Marines to serve as landing forces for the Continental Navy. While these are
the military branches celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2025, we of course
recognize and thank all of our veterans.
To those who served and risked all, whether in war, in conflict, or in peace, we offer two
simple but incredibly powerful words that can never repay you, but are still so important
to say: THANK YOU, we are a better town and nation because of you.
May God Bless you and May God Bless the United States of America.
