Col.(r) Chris Holshek, a New York State Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame honoree, has been making the rounds at municipal meetings in Highland Falls – in the last three weeks he’s been at the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District Board of Education meeting, the Highland Falls Village Board meeting, and the Town of Highlands Town Board meeting. The New Windsor resident, born in Cornwall, is on a mission to promote several local American Legion and Hudson Valley Honor Flight programs.

First is the Boys and Girls State programs (“it’s like a civics summer camp,” he says); the second is the National Service Ride (that’s with the American Legion Riders of Orange County and brings veterans into schools to local schools to “mobilize youth to better themselves, their community, and their country through service-learning under the New York State’s Seal of Civic Readiness Program”) and third is the Youth Guardian program on the Honor Flights (“this gives young men and women a very personal understanding of patriotism and service,” he said, “and helps veterans stories live on.”).

“If you want to restore faith in America, in your community” pay attention to the kids that go to one of these events,” Holshek told the Highlands Town Board recently. He said when he’s among youth he tells them “Service does not require a uniform, a change of address, or a good grade point average. But I promise you, once you serve, you never stop. It’s like a drug, a very good drug.”

He’s also quoted as saying: “To serve, all you need is humility and courage, and it’s in all of us. Every person has a role to play as a meaningful contributor.”

As well, Holshek has spent time at the meetings encouraging the adults to take part in the Honor Flight send-offs and welcome-homes at Stewart Airport. And, at that Town Board meeting he took a minute to praise local American Legion Commander John Flynn – “you’re very lucky to have him,” he said. He urged parents, or students, interested in any of the above programs to reach out to Flynn.

Holshek is the commander of the Harriman American Legion post.