Four Gold Star Mothers honored at the Kent event
KENT – Four area Gold Star Mothers marked the national day that remembers their sacrifice at the Putnam County Gold Star Mother’s monument in the Town of Kent on Sunday.
“No one wants to join our club; the dues are too high,” said Renate DeAngelis of Campbell Hall, president of the Hudson Valley Chapter of Gold Star Mothers.
There are 120 women in the state, who are members of the organization, which represents mothers who have lost a son or daughter while serving in the military.
Attending the Putnam County ceremony were Vivian Allen of Chester, Donna Yorista of Highland, Lorraine Griffen-Kranz of Monroe and DeAngelis.
Putnam County’ first Gold Star Mother, Hazel Martinez of Putnam Lake, died in 2013.
Gold Star Mothers are “cherished members of our community serving as a direct link for those who cannot be present with us today,” said County Executive MaryEllen Odell.
The ceremony was held at Putnam Veterans Memorial Park at the site where the Traveling Vietnam Veterans Wall was on display this past week. It was the fourth time the wall came to Putnam County to remember those killed in that war.
