CORNWALL-ON-HUDSON – The sound of bagpipes could be heard as friends and family said goodbye Thursday to William Larkin, the former New York State senator who died August 31.
A late morning service was conducted at St. Thomas of Canterbury in Cornwall-On-Hudson, and state and local police were in attendance with a farewell salute to Larkin, who served as an assemblyman and senator during his 40-year tenure in state government.
Larkin, a Republican, was well-liked by his party and Democrats.
“I care deeply about veterans’ issues, and we had a bond about that,” said State Senator Shelly Mayer, a Westchester County Democrat representing the 37th District. “He was truly unstoppable.”
Larkin was 91 years old when he died. He served in World War II after enlisting in 1944 when he was 16 years old. . Larkin served in the Pacific Theater and saw more combat during the Korean War.
Larkin entered the U.S. Army as a private and retired from active duty in 1967 as a lieutenant colonel. During his service in World War II and Korea, Larkin earned seven battle stars.
As a state senator, Larkin was instrumental in helping to create the National Purple Heart Hall on Honor in New Windsor, where he served as town supervisor from 1976-1977. He also teamed up with then-US Senator Hillary Clinton to have a Purple Heart postage stamp created.
Jennifer Metzger, a Democratic state senator from Ulster County, attended the Larkin farewell Thursday and she praised him for his service to the United States of America and New York State.
“He served in the military for many years, and this is sad day,” she said. “But we recognize all that he has done.”
Metzger is new to the state senate and said she did not get a chance to know Larkin. But she respects the work he did in state government. “He was a real statesman,” she said.
