Veterans Honored By Town Of North Hempstead

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — The Town of North Hempstead and the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society hosted a Veterans Day ceremony to honor the 12 Revolutionary War patriots buried in Monfort Cemetery on Nov. 11, the town announced.

North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena placed a flag at the gravestone of Adrian Onderdonk, the first supervisor of the Town of North Hempstead. Attendees, including community leaders, Boy Scouts, Daughters of the American Revolution, veterans from VFW Post 1819, and local residents, also planted flags at the graves of Revolutionary War Patriots while also paying tribute to veterans from the community.

The Montfort Cemetery, located at the intersection of Port Washington Boulevard and Main Street, is a town landmark and is on the State and National Registries of Historic Places. It was an active burial ground from at least 1737 to 1892. The site contains some of the Town’s earliest settlers including the Onderdonk, Hegeman, Dodge, Rapelje and Schenck families. The Monfort Cemetery was cared for until 1984 by Burtis Monfort and then deeded to the town by him.

The Town of North Hempstead and the Cow Neck Historical Society have worked together to raise funds, obtaining grants, organizing tours, events, and landscaping for the property.