Chamber’s Military Appreciation banners fly for 2nd year
As you travel around the Town of Highlands this Memorial Day weekend, take a moment to — carefully and safely because you’ll probably be driving — look up at the new Military Appreciation banners that are flying along Main St. and Rt. 9W through Fort Montgomery. Each of the 75 banners features either a ‘hometown hero’ or the military family members of local residents.
The banners have been put in place in the last week by the Highland Falls and Town of Highlands highway crews, and a ceremony unveiling one of the banners was held on Saturday at The Center. Well over 100 people gathered on Main St. that afternoon to watch as the Ramsey family banner was uncovered.
The Highlands Chamber of Commerce is responsible for the program; it is coordinated by Kat Dagaev. The banners are purchased by community residents — or former residents in some cases — and will fly from now through Veterans Day.
“Thanks to all who made this possible again this year,” Chamber President Jim Modlin said at the ceremony. There were several speakers, including West Point Deputy Garrison Commander Tom Cowan, who said: “What a great thing for Hometown USA to do … to take the time to celebrate the gift of military service.”
Cowan said he applauds not only the servicemen and women featured on the banners, but also the families who either continue to support them or who remember them.
O’Neill High School’s JROTC program provided a color guard, and singer of the National Anthem, Joe McInvale. Pastor Agnes Saffoury offered a benediction, urging all to “help us understand the service they gave” and “be relentless in pursuing peace and justice”.
Following the ceremony, Modlin presented American Legion Post 633 — represented by Bob Quintavella — with a $2000 check. That money was the ‘extra’ money collected in banner sales. Last year, the Chamber made a similar contribution to the JROTC program, in its mission to support local military-related organizations.
The following are the names of those listed on the 2019 banners:
Rocco Galu, Raymond Morrison, James Modlin, Victor Maslak, Clarence Hall, Walter Weissmann, Fred Goldblatt, George Ioubriel, Jonathan Parker, Carl Crill, Nelson Bates, KC Evans, Charles Durning, Ivan Lee Ramsey, Thomas Morgan, Max Stroppel Sr., Thomas Armstrong, Thomas Powell Scott, Bob Schallot, Buster Schallot, Dale Schallot, Charlie Schallot, Edward Smith, Michael McCutchen, John Dodson, Louis Kilgore, Robert Scott, Thomas Ryan, George Pierre Hannan, Lawrence Solan Sr., Lawrence Solan Jr., John Solan, Richard Solan, William Solan, Douglas Solan, Adam Solan, William L. Solan, Adam L. Solan, Kenneth DeWitt, Edward Warzala, Emil Smerechynski, Karl Koebel, Peter Kinney, Sanders Matthews Sr., Edward Storms, John Gunza, Donald Wood, Robert Brown, Charles Bradbury Sr., Charles Bradbury Jr., Sheryl Marion, Edward Falta, Edward Falta III, Melanie Guerrero, Nicholas Montellese, Catherine Holland Leahy, Thomas Leahy, Bob Livsey, Dick Hall, Vincent Rush Sr., Vincent Rush Jr., Curtis Darragh, Edward Sporbert, Rev. Dr. Moses Carter, Ruth Ruscelli, Wayne Terhune, John Bosch, Francis McCormick, Alfred John Treacy, Albert Bernard Cristoff, John Flynn, Roy Thomas Hannawalt, Roy Richard Hannawalt, Henry Parry Jr., Alice Parry, Yolanda Mims Johnson, George Sullivan, James Conley, Louie Pelella, Eugene Pelella, Henry Farris, Robert Anderson and Donatus Wik.
