March 29, 2019 Named Vietnam Veterans Day

Senator Pete Harckham, along with Senator John Brooks, co-sponsored Senate Resolution J783 recognizing March 29, 2019 as Vietnam Veterans Day. The resolution, which thanked “our brave Vietnam veterans for their honorable service to their country," was read on the New York State Senate floor Friday, and the Vietnam veterans in the chamber were personally thanked in floor speeches by numerous senators.

“There was another Great Generation from places like Peekskill, Mt. Kisco and Carmel that hasn’t gotten the recognition it deserves - our Vietnam veterans,” said Harckham, 40th Senate District. "When they were called to service, they brought honor to themselves and their country. Today, we are showing our Vietnam veterans the respect they are owed for their sacrifices, that they didn’t always get when they returned home in turbulent times.”

The resolution noted that the U.S. carried out its first combat mission against the Viet Cong on January 12, 1962 and the last American troops left Vietnam on March 29, 1973. During the 11-year war, more than 3 million Americans served their country and over 58,000 sacrificed their lives.

Harckham brought Vietnam veterans from SD40 towns including Brewster, Peekskill, Shrub Oak, Patterson and beyond, to Albany, so they could be honored by the Senate for Vietnam Veterans Day. The following veterans were in attendance:

• Arthur Hanley Specialist 4
• Karl Rhode Specialist 4
• Joseph P. Reynolds SP/5 Specialist, Army
• Frank Goderre Staff Sergeant, Air Force
• Jim Martin E5 Specialist 5th Class
• Salvatore Bellanconi Specialist 5
• John Mastromarino E4 Specialist Infantry (Corporal), Army
• James McCarthy SP/5 (Specialist 5th Class), Army
• Harry Sherblom Corporal E4

Karl Rhode is the Director of the Putnam County Veteran Services Agency. Arthur Hanley is the Deputy Director of Putnam County Veteran Affairs.

Caption: Left to right: Frank Goderre (Vietnam veteran), Jim Martin (Vietnam veteran), Senator David Carlucci, Harry Sherblom (Vietnam veteran), Arthur Hanley (Vietnam veteran), Senator Shelley Mayer, Senator Sue Serino, Salvatore Bellanconi (Vietnam veteran), Senator John Brooks, Karl Rhode (Vietnam veteran), Senator Pete Harckham, John Mastromarino (Vietnam veteran), Joseph P. Reynolds (Vietnam veteran), James McCarthy (Vietnam veteran)

The New York State Senate District 40 includes parts of Northern Westchester (Briarcliff Manor, Buchanan, Cortlandt, Croton-on-Hudson, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, Mount Pleasant, New Castle, North Salem, Peekskill, Pleasantville, Pound Ridge, Sleepy Hollow, Somers, Yorktown) Putnam (Brewster, Carmel, Patterson, Southeast) and Dutchess (Beekman, Pawling).