One Man's Journey On This Year's Veteran's Day Celebrations !

My day began by attending the dedication of a public space in the heart of the Village of Nyack to the late Hezekiah Easter. Who, you ask, is Hezekiah Easter. I am speaking of an historic iconic legend in the Village of Nyack and the Town of Orangetown in the last half of the last Century by leading an extraordinary inspirational public life as the First African-American elected to public office in the Village and Town and County.

But to me, "Hez" was a 40 plus-year, more than friend or colleague, he was my spiritual Brother. I had a hand in his being nominated to run for a seat on the newly created County Legislature which replaced County Government by the five Town Supervisors in 1969. Following his election, he and I ran as a Team for his following three terms. I felt that I was making local political history and making a lifetime friend at the same time. When Hez decided to retire, I nominated him to serve on the Board of Directors of The Abbott House Home For Children with me. More than the memories of what we accomplished on the Legislature or for Abbott House was sharing stories of our growing up and our years in the military.

From the dedication, I went to the Ceremony hosted in Pearl River on the space/park adjacent to the RR Station by the Pearl River AMERICAN LEGION, which is one of the most active community service organizations in the County. A well deserved Award was presented to Orangetown Councilman Denis Troy for his support of our veterans.

From there I joined a Pearl River Girl Scout Troop who brought gift packages to the resident veterans in the Rockland Home For Heroes Supported Apartments in Tappan. The conduct of the young ladies [16 years old] to the veterans was beyond perfect. They socialized with the veterans with dignity, respect, warmth and smiles that lifted the spirits of the Day for veterans two generations older and not as blessed. Please note that I do not identify the names of the organizations or youngsters for internet security purposes. However unidentified/nameless photos are approved.

Next came the Hot Cocoa Stand in Tappan that has become part of our Veterans Day Celebration in Rockland. The youngsters who created the Stand are doing it for six years and have raised many thousands of dollars for the "Rockland Homes For Heroes" Supportive Apartments in Tappan for formerly homeless veterans. This year they brought in $500. The photos below prove they were having fun reminding all their neighbors what the Day was all about. Despite my diabetes, I ordered a cocoa and found it to be better than any hot cocoa I ever had in my entire life. By the way, the reason Denis Troy is in the photos is because his son Dan and Dan's beloved spouse Kristen Bader hosted the Stand on their home property because their children were, with friends, operating the Stand.

From there, Denis and I went to the Nyack Hot Coca Stand, where there was another very enthusiastic and happy group, all belonging to a Girl Scout Troop. I saw the same joyful enthusiasm as the youngsters were waving down bystanders raising their $600 for the same cause as Tappan's. The reason Denis is also in that photo is because his daughter Kathleen and her beloved spouse Glenn Maier are the parents of two of the Stand operators.

By this time I realized that the Troy Tribe had a monopoly on Hot Cocoa Stands for veterans on Veteran's Day and maybe it all began in the Troy home where love of America was taught.