Town honors its Veterans

By Connor Linskey
Posted 11/18/20

Even the COVID-19 pandemic could not keep the Town of Montgomery from honoring its veterans.

The town held its annual Veterans Day ceremony at town hall last Wednesday. The event kicked off with …

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Town honors its Veterans

Posted

Even the COVID-19 pandemic could not keep the Town of Montgomery from honoring its veterans.

The town held its annual Veterans Day ceremony at town hall last Wednesday. The event kicked off with a parade featuring music from Maybrook Scout Troop 236, Montgomery Boy Scout Troop 31, American Legion Montgomery Post 521 and several other veterans organizations.

Several distinguished speakers thanked the veterans for their service during the event.

"Dear Lord thank you for the free country in which we live,” said Montgomery Town Supervisor Brian Maher. “Thank you for the men and women in uniform who risk life and limb to preserve our way of life and our freedoms. Today, please be with each soldier, sailor, airman, marine and guardsman as they serve. Please look after their families and keep them safe.”

“Those who fought and died, those who fought and were imprisoned, some never accounted for, those who fought and served and have returned home and those who are serving now all had the same goal: to serve and protect the freedoms we now enjoy,” said Montgomery American Legion Post 521 Commander Mark Merring. “And trust me, we all wished we were somewhere else. But the call to duty to serve our country took precedent. Because the cost of freedom is not free.”

Jamie Ackerly, an army mom and Town of Montgomery resident, announced the launch and membership drive for the Hudson Valley Chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. This is a private nonprofit organization that provides support for mothers who have sons or daughters in active service in the U.S. Armed Forces.

“The role of a military mom is quite different than that of most moms,” Ackerly said. “Our hearts are torn with pride for the patriotic commitment our children have made to protect the freedoms of those they may not even agree with and the fear of the dangers both physically and mentally they will face at home and on foreign lands. We wait, we worry, we watch and we try not to let our imaginations get the best of us.”