Putnam Sheriff Donald Smith, left, was one of the county officials
who honored
Eric Gross as the county’s Patriot
CARMEL – Putnam County celebrated its 204th birthday on Monday,
June 13, presenting awards to individuals and organizations in the county
that continue to help maintain its history and heritage.
One individual, a retired teacher and journalist, Eric Gross of Carmel,
was named the county’s Putnam Patriot, said County Executive MaryEllen
Odell.
“We decided collectively that he has probably said the pledge of
allegiance in excess of 10,000 times in Putnam County having served in
all the legislative meetings and all of the veterans’ ceremonies
and he has probably said the pledge of allegiance more than any individual
in Putnam County so we declared him to be Putnam’s Patriot,”
she said.
The county also honored Steven Miller, executive director of Boscobel
House and Gardens and Curator Jennifer Carlquist with the Exemplary Museum
and Exhibition Award; the Innovative History Award to Melissa McGill,
artist, for Constellation, Bannerman’s Island; the Creative and
Adaptive Reuse of a Historic Structure Award to The Tompkins Corners Cultural
Center; and the Lifetime Achievement Award to Gross.
