Town of Cortlandt Honors LHS Grad Captain Clayton Carpenter

On a spectacular late afternoon along the Hudson River, Army Captain Clayton Carpenter was honored yesterday (June 11, 2015) by the Town of Cortlandt. The town dedicated two benches located at the Cortlandt Waterfront Park in Verplanck. The benches face the Hudson River at one of its most scenic spots. Also, honored was Shipfitter 3rd Class Russell T. Harrison, an active town resident and veteran who passed away in January 2014 at the age of 91.

Captain Carpenter, who grew up in Cortlandt, graduated from Lakeland HS in 2001 and from West Point in May 2005. Also honored was Russell T. Harrison with a memorial bench. The Walter Panas High School Chamber Choir under the direction of Jamie Stofolino was on hand to sing the National Anthem and ”Danny Boy”.

Captain Carpenter passed away in January 2014 during training exercises in Georgia. He served in Afghanistan and Iraq and was a member of the elite special operations unit, the Night Stalkers, flying Black Hawk helicopters.

On hand to offer remarks were Town of Cortlandt Supervisor Linda D. Puglisi, Lakeland High School Principal Lorrie Yurish, and Clayton’s friend and fellow West Point graduate Captain Daniel Gonzalez. Captain Carpenter’s mother and father were also on hand to talk about their son.

Also honored with a bench at the site was Russell T. Harrison, a veteran and town resident, who passed away in January 2014. Speaking on his behalf in addition to Supervisor Puglisi were members of his family and Buchanan Mayor Theresa Knickerbocker.