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September - October 2018
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boatingonthehudson.com
The third annual boat rides for veterans was yet again
a huge success. The day began as usual with coffee and
donuts after signing in. The flag raising ceremony was
conducted by Retired Air Force Veteran Chief Master
Sergeant John Foster and Assemblyman Keiran Lalor. The
National Anthem was beautifully sung by Brenda Moore-
Frazier. The vets and captains were then connected and
they made their way to the 16 boats that participated in
the event this year. The procession, which was led and
followed by Dutchess County Marine Sheriffs, headed
south to West Point and back. Along for the ride was a
96-year-old WWII Navy veteran, Gino DiGregorio. Upon
their return everyone was treated to a bountiful meal
of a variety of foods donated by many companies and
individuals. George Mann (mastermind behind the whole
event), worked together The Dutchess County Office of
Veterans Services to obtain the names of the veterans who
would be interested in participating. We hope you all come
back next year!
Thanks to Dutchess County Sherriff’s (Marine Division)
for the escort, White’s Hudson River Marina, Thunderbird
Corporation (Formula Boats-Tonya Baker Hamilton),
My Brother Bobby’s Salsa Robert S. Gropper, Rainbow
Pools (Michael Todd), Fleet Feet of Poughkeepsie (Kim
Caruso), NBCDI (Linda Melton Mann), Shop-Rite (Fishkill),
Central Hudson (Denise Doring VanBuren), Dunkin
Donuts (Wappingers Falls), Party City (Wappingers Falls)
Tomato Café (Scott Classey), Friendly Honda (Veronica
Sarles), Brian @Signal Graphics Printing & Signs, Scott
Harrison, Ashley Cogan, Todd Bender, Carolyn Foreman,
Jeff Bose, Drew Lanz, Chira Sukhothai of Beacon,
Fast Eddies (Eddie LaBounty), and John Foster. Thank
you State Senator Sue Cvijanovich Serino, Assemblyman
Keiran Lalor and former Wappingers Falls Town Supervisor
Lori Sucich Jiava for your presence and kind words! A great
big thank you to all of the captains who volunteered the
use of their boats to carry veterans and to all those who
helped on the grounds. Thank you, veterans, for giving us
the freedom to enjoy this event!