Murphy inducts Class of 2015 into Veterans Hall of Fame
November 24, 2015
JEFFERSON VALLEY, NY - Nineteen veterans from all corners of the 40th Senate District were honored by State Senator Terrence Murphy last night by being inducted into the Veterans' Hall of Fame. This year's nominees were selected by their individual municipalities for their exemplary efforts both as soldiers and in civilian life.
"These brave individuals will never admit it, never acknowledge it, but they are our true heroes," Senator Murphy told the audience. "The recent attacks in Paris and Beirut should act as a stark reminder of what you were all willing to sacrifice on behalf of us."
Family members, neighbors, fellow veterans, elected officials and even local celebrity performer Jessica Lynn paid tribute to this year's class hailing them as the best of the best. Included in this year's ceremony was a tribute to Pound Ridge native Marine Captain Eric A. Jones. Captain Jones was killed on October 26, 2009 in a helicopter collision during a combat mission in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. Earlier this month, Senator Murphy hosted a highway dedication renaming a portion of Route 137 in his memory.
"Whether on the beaches of Normandy, or in the jungles of Vietnam, or the deserts of the Middle East, we have here tonight nineteen individuals who were willing to give their lives to protect millions of people they didn't know," Senator Murphy said. "That level of selflessness is rarely seen in the world today and only proves that you, and your fellow soldiers, are the angles in the night protecting us from unknown harm and danger."
The Class of 2015 Veteran's Hall of Fame includes (click to download a bio suitable for publication):
Robert J. Castelli - Lewisboro
Robert E. Ferguson - Cortlandt
Gregory T. Lobato - Sleepy Hollow
Willis H. Stephens - Southeast