Hospice of Orange and Sullivan County, in collaboration with the Cornwall Yacht Club, hosted veterans, community members and fellow guests as they celebrated the third annual National Vietnam War Veterans Day Celebration and Memorial. National Vietnam War Veterans Day is nationally celebrated every year on March 29.

Beginning the ceremony, cadets of the Newburgh Free Academy Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) presented the colors to the gathered crowd. Army Reservist and Clinical Manager of Hospice, Lacy Rugaber, led the gathered members during the course of the ceremony. Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus and Christian Farrell, Director of the Orange County Veterans Service Agency, thanked the crowd for joining together to celebrate veterans of this turbulent period of American history.

Sandra Cassese, Chief Executive Officer of Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties, shared that Hospice is deeply committed to the veterans of the community, even those veterans who are near the end of life. She is also the proud daughter of an Air Force veteran, and many of her cousins served during the Vietnam War. “We’ve spent a lot of time over the past couple of years making sure that we are paying proper recognition to those veterans who served in the Vietnam War. I think that an event such as the one that we’re having today highlights that,” said Cassese. “‘I’m so indebted to your service and proud to be here today.”

During the course of the ceremony, Rugaber recognized the Missing Man’s Table, a table dedicated to those missing and imprisoned service members who never made it home. Each item placed upon the table represents a specific thought of remembrance for these service members.

Mark Raymond, Vice Commodore of the Yacht Club and son of a Vietnam veteran was grateful to see friends and volunteers come out to support the day, especially with the good weather throughout the course of the event proceedings. “We’re here for the veterans and we’re happy to help Hospice with what they’re doing,” said Raymond. “These small events are not quite enough and people need to help out more. Hopefully more events like this happen.”

John Richichi, President of the NAM Knights of America Motorcycle Club Orange County Chapter, shared his gratitude for the service members and for the long awaited welcome for these veterans. “There’s more sadness and happiness, because this is something that our Vietnam veterans should have been recognized for when they came home 50 years ago, or more, that they never were,” said Richichi. “Better late than never, but you could never repay them for their sacrifices, you could never make better what happened to them when they came home.”

Within the county, Farrell’s work mainly focuses on veterans here in Orange County in helping them find housing or serve them food through their food pantries.

Walsh, a former Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force, was grateful for the event turnout. “It’s fantastic to see the turnout, the enthusiasm for the veterans community and for their service. It was a tumultuous time in our country’s history, it still continues to be so today. It’s always important once again, to remember those who sacrificed,” said Walsh. “I began my service in 1985, roughly 10 years after we left Saigon. And it was those active duty in-country Vietnam veterans that took me under their wing in the very beginning of my career when they were toward the end of theirs, and I credit them with my very survival in a number of compromised position. So although we all love to say thank you for your service, I would like to thank them for my survival.”

“We always want to make sure we honor the family members too, because at the end of the day, the person that’s going to support you the most is your family member, or your friend or whoever, that rock is in the veterans life to make sure that they have a safe place and a safe place to talk and work through what they’re going through,” said Rugaber.