Armed Forces Day i n Putnam County Begins With Pancake Breakfast

From the Putnam County Executive Office:

A pancake breakfast on Armed Forces Day will kick off the spring Row of Honor season on Saturday, May 21 at the Carmel VFW Hall, located on Route 52 in Carmel, N.Y., from 9-11 a.m. The Putnam County Joint Veterans Council is organizing the breakfast. There is a suggested donation of $8 per person or $12 per family.

Armed Forces Day was first observed in May 1950 to honor Americans serving in the five U.S. military branches – the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard – following the consolidation of the military services in the U.S. Department of Defense. It was intended to replace the separate Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Days, but the separate days are still observed, especially within the respective services.

“It makes sense to start the spring Row of Honor season on Armed Forces Day,” said Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell. “Just like Armed Forces Day, our flags represent those who have served and those who continue to serve in our five U.S. military branches.

“There is something so special about looking out on Lake Gleneida and seeing those flags dance in the wind so freely. It makes you take a moment and remember that there was a cost to our safety and freedom. These flags are a thank you to those who sacrificed of themselves so we could live a blessed life.”

Twice a year, for Memorial Day and Veterans Day, more than 200 flags with the names of veterans line the shore of Lake Gleneida. This historic observation has become a cherished tradition for residents and has drawn national attention to Putnam County.

“A sense of pride and sadness fills me when I see the Row of Honor,” said veteran Karl Rohde, who is director of the county’s Veterans Service Agency and vice-chairman of the Putnam County Joint Veterans Council. “Pride because it is an obvious show of patriotism and love for our country. It makes me sad because it reminds me of my comrades who have lost their lives serving with honor under that flag.”

With a $100 donation, the name of a loved one can appear on a flag. The proceeds will go toward Veterans Peer-to-Peer projects.

Interested individuals must RSVP or order a flag by contacting (845) 808-1620 or visiting the Putnam County Row of Honor website. Checks can be made payable to the Joint Veterans Council to PC Veterans Service Agency, Donald B. Smith Government Campus, at 110 Old Route 6, Bldg. 3, Carmel, N.Y. 10512.