Tarrytown Mayor Honored Following Senate Veterans HOF Induction

TARRYTOWN, NY — The first African-American mayor in the history of the Village of Tarrytown is being recognized for a different sort of public service today, following his induction into the New York State Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame in a ceremony on Veterans Day.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins will present outgoing Tarrytown Mayor and U.S. Army veteran, Colonel Thomas D. Butler, Jr. with a plaque at the Tarrytown Board of Trustees meeting on Monday. The presentaion will mark his induction into the New York State Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame.

The honor was announced on Veterans Day, during the New York State Senate virtual ceremony to recognize distinguished veterans. To be selected for the award, inductees must have served in the United States Armed Forces and demonstrated service to their community or accomplishments as a civilian.

Each State Senator is asked to nominate one veteran from their district.

"Colonel Butler has risen in leadership over his 35 years in the U.S. Army and Reserves. He incorporated the values he learned in that time into his role on the Tarrytown Board of Trustees — where he served for 15 years — and now as the Mayor of Tarrytown," Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said. "Like many veterans, Tom continues to give back to his community and is certainly deserving of this esteemed honor."

Butler enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1969, where he served five years. He then served another 30 years as an officer in the Army Corps of Engineers with the U.S. Army Reserve.

He retired at the rank of Colonel.

Butler was born in Brooklyn and moved to Tarrytown, where he has lived for more than 34 years, eventually being named mayor. Prior to his appointment as mayor, Butler served on the Board of Trustees for 15 years.

"General Douglas MacArthur said: ‘Duty, Honor, Country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be,'" Butler said, accepting the honor. "I am both honored and humbled to be inducted into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame by Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and the State of New York, joining other honored veterans, leaders who have served America, the State of New York, and their local community."

The New York State Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame was created to honor and recognize outstanding veterans from the Empire State who have distinguished themselves both in military and civilian life, according to Stewart-Cousins.

"The meritorious service of these veterans to our nation and to their communities deserves the special recognition that only a Hall of Fame can provide as a fitting expression of our gratitude and admiration,” Stewart-Cousins said. “It mirrors the Senate’s commitment to fund veterans’ organizations, to support veterans as they transition back to civilian life and to secure additional funding for veterans’ mental health initiatives.”