Peekskill Veterans Day Ceremony to Start at 10AM Nov. 11

Veterans Day Services will be conducted at Memorial Park, Peekskill, NY, located at the intersection of North Division Street and Highland Avenue, at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, November 11, 2014. The ceremony will honor all surviving veterans and those serving in our military today. All citizens are urged to attend to show their gratitude for a country who has never lacked young men and women who were willing to place themselves in harm’s way.

Today our military is coping with enemies and terrorist groups in many different countries and are also risking their lives providing aid and support to many areas being ravaged by plague , in addition to serving in Korea and other parts of the world who depend on our troops for peace keeping.

The number of our troops being killed and wounded has increased significantly in the past two years and the surviving wounded are being short changed and are not receiving adequate follow up treatment in our Veterans hospital facilities. In addition the permanently disabled are having their benefits reduced along with many of the troops who have seen drastic reductions in their pensions.

It is our duty to focus on the lack of support for all of our comrades and we urge every citizen to come to our services and join us in honoring and praying for all of our active and retired comrades and their families and demanding they be properly equipped and supported in their missions and when they come home and need follow up care.

Our first President George Washington said it so clearly when he spoke of the mettle of a country and the willingness of its citizens to serve in defense of country being dependent on the treatment of its veterans and families.

Here is the schedule:

• Welcome – Robert A. Boddie Sr., 1st Deputy Post Commander
• Opening Prayer – Rabbi Lee Paskind, First Hebrew Congregation, Peekskill, NY
• Pledge of Allegiance –Girl Scouts
• National Anthem – Sung by Celia Grabowicki, Peekskill Police Department
• Musical Interlude – Performance by the Peekskill High School Band – John Hahn, Director
• Laying of Wreaths
• Taps by a Member of the Peekskill High School Band
• Musical Interlude – Performed by Tim Murphy and Joe Brady, Bagpiper
• Introduction of Special Guests – Mayor Frank Catalina and Robert A. Boddie
• Short Speeches by Guest Officials
• Comments By Post Official and Remembrance by name of Departed Comrades during 2014 by Chaplain.
• 11:00 AM – Moment of Silence followed by a musical interlude by Tim Murphy and Joe Brady
• Musical Interlude – Performance by the Peekskill High School Band – John Hahn, Director
• Special Mention and Acknowledgment of Area Veterans, Living and Dead, as well as local heroes including fire fighters, police, EMT forces, etc.
• Thanks to those who have assisted in making the ceremony possible (Mayor’s Office, Parks and Recreation, Fire Department, Police Department, City Manager, Department of Public Works, etc.) Thanks to organizations attending and to the public.
• Closing Prayer – Father Vernon, Peekskill Fire Department, Holy Spirit Parish
• Closing of ceremony and invitation to American Legion Hall – Robert A. Boddie