CARMEL – A total of 24 American heroes were recognized Thursday when county government bestowed upon them the recently minted Putnam County Service Medal.
The event was held on the 75th anniversary of D-Day in World War II.
The 11 World War II veterans with the remainder serving in the Korean War were introduced as “supermen” by Art Hanley, deputy director of the Putnam Veterans Service Agency, who told those gathered at the historic Putnam Courthouse, “if it wasn’t for these comrades, America would not have the freedoms it has today.”
County Legislature Chairman Joseph Castellano, who headed up the Service Medal Committee, gave a brief history lesson.
On October 14, 1919, the former Putnam Board of Supervisors proclaimed a commemoration celebration by honoring all World War I service members. Eleven days later, more than 200 men and women who served overseas were honored with a parade, celebration and the award of a specially designed Putnam County Service Medal. Now, almost 100 years later, Putnam County has approved the minting of a new Putnam County Service Medal, the first of which are being presented this evening.”
In his remarks, John Bourges, Chairman of the Joseph Dwyer Vet-2-Vet Program, reminded the audience to “talk to a veteran. These men provide a wealth of information and are living history.”
Castellano told the audience that “Putnam was New York State’s first Purple Heart County to honor recipients of the decoration awarded to members of the military wounded or killed in combat. We may be small in size but from our very origins in 1812, Putnam has provided military leaders of national and historical significance including General Israel Putnam, Civil War General Daniel Butterfield and five Congressional Medal of Honor recipients.”
The medal was created by artist Michael Keropian, a Fellow of the National Sculpture Society and Sculpture chairman of the Hudson Valley Art Association.
Two hundred other veterans serving in wars and conflicts have also applied for the medal that will be presented at a future date.
World War II veterans honored at the ceremony were 101-year-old Joseph Adamo of Brewster, Norman Berenback of Brewster, Walter Sieck of Brewster, John Haslach of Carmel, Thomas Smith of Brewster, Joseph Cioccolanti of Brewster, James DiPelesi of Mahopac, Edward Donaher of Mahopac, Joseph Gervasi of Kent who served in both WWII as well as Korea, Marvin Needelman of Cold Spring and Joseph Castellano of Carmel who also served in Korea as well as the Second World War.
Korean War vets honored included James Bradley of Brewster, Esteban Alicea, Joseph Reinhardt of Carmel, John Crowley of Kent, George Godfrey of Brewster, Francis Lahey of Cold Spring, Peter Marino of Carmel, Lawrence Bartolotti of Kent, Louis Gasparini of Brewster, Martin Pulchalski of Kent, Luke Neil Hickey of Kent and Manuel Salmon of Carmel.
Elsewhere, D-Day was remembered at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor. Among the dignitaries on hand was Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul (holding proclamation).
