Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties will host its 2026 Veterans Brunch: A Salute to Service on Wednesday, Sept. 23, bringing together veterans, Gold Star family members and the community for a morning honoring those who served our country and celebrating those who continue to serve others long after leaving the military. To register, please visit https://bit.ly/3Ut6RqG.
“Service does not end when someone takes off the uniform. We see that in the veterans throughout our community who continue to lead, volunteer, advocate and care for others,” said Eric Gatsik, President and CEO of Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties. “This brunch gives us an opportunity to recognize that lifelong commitment, hear directly from veterans about their experiences and remind those who served that their sacrifices and contributions continue to be valued.”
The event will feature a Salute to Service panel with Navy veteran Kevin Clardy, retired U.S. Army Colonel Jeanette McMahon and Marine Corps veteran Jose Morales Jr. WTBQ Station Manager Taylor Sterling, an advocate for veterans and hospice, will serve as panel emcee.
Through their personal stories, the panelists will explore how the values, leadership and commitment developed through military service have continued to shape their lives and their work in the community.
Clardy served during the Persian Gulf War as a Machinist Mate 3rd Class aboard the USS New Orleans LPH-11 before pursuing a career in law enforcement. Now retired, he has been an active member of the Nam Knights of Orange County for nine years and has volunteering with Hospice of Orange & Sullivan, Hudson Valley Honor Flight, Wreaths Across America and Toys for Military Tots. His community service also includes funeral escorts, scholarship fundraising and projects supporting local veterans. Clardy is also an active member of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council and a member of the American Legion, Polish Legion of American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
McMahon is a 1983 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point who served as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot with the 101st Airborne Division and aviation brigades in Germany and Korea. She also served as a commanding general’s speechwriter in the United States Army Pacific. A Gold Star family member, McMahon was widowed when her husband, Lieutenant Colonel Michael McMahon, was killed in a military aircraft crash in Afghanistan in 2004. After retiring from the Army, she served as a Development Officer for a Gold Star Family nonprofit to ensure debt-free college education for children who lost a parent in the line of duty. She currently works with the West Point Association of Graduates.
Morales served in the United States Marine Corps during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm as a Demolition Breach Team Leader attached to Alpha Company, 7th Engineer Battalion. He also served with Task Force Papa Bear, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, helping spearhead ground attacks. Morales was meritoriously promoted to Noncommissioned Officer and received numerous military honors, including the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and Kuwait Liberation Medal. He was also a recipient of the Band of Brothers Prestigious Award. Morales currently serves as VFW District 2 Commander representing 52 area posts, while also being employed as a Senior Detective Investigator with the New York District Attorney’s Office.
The 2026 Veterans Brunch: A Salute to Service will be held Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The American Grill at Stony Ford Golf Course, Thomas Bull Memorial Park, 211 State Route 416, Montgomery, N.Y.
Veterans and Gold Star family members are invited to attend free of charge and may bring a guest. Registration is required by Sept. 17 and seating is limited. Attendees are encouraged to register early to reserve their seats.