Mount Kisco, N.Y. – (5/20/2012) On Sunday, May 20 Senator Greg Ball (R, C – Patterson) The Chairman of Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs hosted a Grand Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for his Veterans Wall of Fame. At the ceremony Senator Ball announced that Croton-on-Hudson resident, Eugene Parrotta will be his nominee for the 2012 New York State Veterans’ Hall of fame.
“This wall tells a larger story of courage, of honor, and of integrity,” Senator Ball said. “The rights and privileges we enjoy are protected because of the service of others, and I am proud to present them and their stories by this small gesture of appreciation.”
Parrotta, who was honorably discharged as a Specialist Fourth Class from the U.S. Army, is a recipient of the Purple Heart with Oak Cluster for his service in Vietnam and currently chairs Senator Ball’s Veteran’s Advisory Council.
“Freedom and liberty are the title and deed of the soil we stand on. That price of that freedom and liberty is very expensive. The men on this wall have all paid that price,” said the statewide nominee Eugene Parrotta. “I would like to thank Senator Ball for honoring us all with such great dignity and respect. God Bless Senator Ball, everyone here today, and The United States of America.”
Created and hosted by Senator Ball, the Veterans’ Wall of Fame was designed to honor outstanding veterans from throughout the 40th Senate District. Each city, town and village within the Senator’s district was asked to nominate a veteran to be honored on the wall. The Grand Ribbon Cutting Ceremony marks the eleventh stop the wall has made since its November debut at the Putnam County Emergency Services Center Building in Carmel, N.Y.
The Grand Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and announcement of the statewide nominee was followed by a free BBQ hosted by Senator Greg Ball and the Mt. Kisco American Legion.
“Senator Ball should be commended for doing this and helping us to never forget any of our veterans,” County Executive Robert Astorino said. “With Memorial Day just around the corner, our thoughts and prayers are focused on those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. But veterans deserve our thanks all year long, not just around one or two holidays. The Veterans’ Wall of Fame is one small way to show our appreciation and honor the service of our brave men and women.”
“I applaud Senator Ball and County Executive Astorino for their recognition of the distinguished service of our nation’s veterans,” Assemblyman Robert Castelli said. “It is indeed an honor, as a fellow veteran of the Vietnam War, to see those members from all our services, and all our past wars honored for their service and their sacrifice. While we are a nation at peace, it must be remembered that we still have a military at war, and unlike during the Vietnam era, our society today recognizes the need to honor those veterans, and to protect them on their return and reintegration into society. I my salute my colleagues and join with them in giving all our veterans the recognition they so richly deserve.”
“I think this is wonderful, it is a great thing. No one has done this before,” said the North Salem honoree Herbert Geller. “It is also just as important for us to remember the people that are coming home today.”
“It’s an honor to be here today, and I appreciate Senator Ball giving us this honor,” said the Buchanan honoree Russ Harrison. “Senator Ball is a terrific man, he treats us with all the respect in the world.”
For a full list of the Veterans that were honored in the 40th Senate District Veterans’ Hall of Fame please click here [2].
For more information or to speak with Senator Ball, please contact Joe Bachmeier: (845) 200-9716.
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