Photos: Peekskill Honors Veterans and Active Military at Ceremony

Yellow leaves blew around red, white and blue American flags at Monument Park in Peekskill this morning during the city's Veterans Day Ceremony. Community members, local officials and families honored the dozens of veterans present for their service and dedication to this country and our freedom.

The ceremony also recognized all of our countries veterans, "past, present and future," and offered support for our current troops overseas.

Area veteran’s group leader John Donahue led the ceremony which featured many guest speakers, as well as musical interludes by the Peekskill High School band, led by director John Hahn; and by Joe Brady and Tim Murphy. Ceclia Grabowiecki, of the Peekskill Police Department, sung the National Anthem to begin the ceremony.

Among the speakers were Mayor Mary Foster, Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, County Legislator John Testa, Willy Nazario, Chairman of the Cortlandt Hudson Valley Veteran’s Committee and Commander of Chapter 21 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and Brendan Fitzgerald, who discussed the 5K run for heroes.

Guest speaker Tamara Englund, U.S. Airforce emphasized the importance of honoring veterans for defending our freedom and protecting our democracy. She also urged the crowd to volunteer time to veterans and get involved with charity's that give back to military men and women.

Father Vincent Druding gave the opening prayer and Rabbi Lee Paskind gave the closing prayer.

The Peekskill police, fire and Emergency Services departments were honored during the ceremony as well.

Following the ceremony thank you notes from Morey and Mandel's second grade class at Benjamin Franklin school in Lakeland school district were distributed to the veterans.

Click through the photos to read what other speakers had to say in honor of America's veterans.

Were you there? Please add your photos to this article.

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