This past weekend, the United States Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol South Eastern Group on Sunday, March 7., which covers Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties, held a honor guard event for veterans at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Montrose.

The members of the auxiliary are an interesting bunch with diverse histories; one, a former Marine (if there is such a thing) served in World War II. Another had never served during wartime, but had been a member of the auxiliary for decades. There were young members there, too — one of the youngest, a 14-year-old from Crugers, helped engineer the event. Through the Knights of Columbus, he and his father frequently take veterans who are patients at the hospital to Catholic Mass on Sundays. He decided it would be nice to bring the veterans some gifts — sweats, toiletries, socks, etc. — and put on an honor guard show, complete with coffee and doughnuts. When asked why they were there, several Civil Air Patrol members said they were caring for the forgotten.

The veterans loved it. They, too, had varied stories. Some served in World War II, some in Vietnam, some are severely handicapped, others are functioning. The gifts and coffee were nice, but what made an impression was the bit of socializing, the smiles and the handshakes.

Most of us don’t see the veterans who are truly sick, mentally and/or physically; they aren’t marching in parades. Some are in places like the Montrose hospital. Some of them aren’t so lucky — they are living in the woods, or holed up in their homes.

One of the veterans present said he had been expressing his gratitude through poetry. He said he wrote a poem entitled “Million Dollar Seats” when he realized how much it was worth to him to have the support from the veterans’ hospital and to receive treatment for his drug addiction.

It’s inspiring to see the turnaround our country has had in its regard for its troops. One veteran at the hospital said that it was nice to be shown such respect on Sunday. When he came home from Vietnam, he “felt like I had done something wrong. This is the first time I felt respect, coming here.”

We have realized the damage we inflicted on our men and women returning from war in the latter part of the 1900s and have found it in our hearts to support our troops, regardless of the government’s motive for war.

Assemblyman Greg Ball, Congressman John Hall, Cortlandt Town Supervisor Linda Puglisi, Cortlandt Town Board members, and many other elected officials have set a tremendous example of supporting our troops through advocating for veterans. The veterans throughout North County, and beyond, need your help and support. Sometimes that means advocating in Congress. Other times, it’s simply a handshake.

Peekskill takes on SNL

We’d like to congratulate Peekskill city officials, including Mayor Mary Foster, for making a funny skit even funnier by taking advantage of the situation to bring positive attention to the city.

Saturday Night Live featured an “interview” with Gov. David Paterson, played by Fred Armisen. It’s one of their regular skits; the New York state governor shows contempt for many things, many people, and above all else, has no use for people living “upstate” or in New Jersey.

So, when he was asked during the skit what he would be doing with himself for the rest of his term, until he leaves office in November (since he is no longer running for re-election, thank God), he said he might make speeches in places that would be happy to have him, such as the “rock-eaters” from “hell holes like Plattsburgh and Peekskill.”
The city has been working toward a rebirth as an artist community, and trying to attract new businesses and development. Taking advantage of a SNL skit to call attention to the city was a smart PR move—and an opportunity for a good laugh. You don’t get that every day on television.