CARMEL- Hundreds of tattered American flags were patriotically retired Friday evening in a large steel drum that symbolized veterans’ determination of never having their park desecrated again.
Nineteen years ago, on the eve of Memorial Day, vandals – under the cloak of darkness – entered the park and spray painted the veteran’s monument in one of Putnam’s most despicable and disgraceful acts of vandalism ever recorded. The veterans’ community rallied that day and the paint was removed in time for Memorial Day services.
Since then, beginning on Friday and continuing throughout every Memorial Day weekend, groups of veterans were joined by members of scout troops from across the county. They related stories while patrolling the park throughout the night.
During Friday’s opening ceremony, Karl Rohde of Lake Carmel, Vietnam Veteran, Silver Star recipient and former NYS VFW Commander who currently serves as Director of the Putnam’s Veterans Services Agency, thanked those for attending: “Out of something horrific has come something good.”
