Westchester County marked Memorial Day with a special ceremony at Lasdon Park, Arboretum and Veterans Memorial in Katonah on Friday, May 26.
County Executive George Latimer and Veterans Service Agency Director Ron Tocci were joined by other elected regional officials.
Latimer said: “Memorial Day has its own specialty to it. Because everyone who has put on the uniform of this country has made a sacrifice. Anyone who has gone through 13 weeks of basic training ”“ I don”™t care if you were peeling potatoes in the kitchen during your time in the military, if you went through 13 weeks of basic training, you make a sacrifice for your country…. But today is that special step beyond that, where we are saying that we are recognizing those who not just made a tremendous sacrifice for the nation but made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Tocci said, “The defining moments of our history came during periods of great conflict when American sons and daughters answered the call to fight for freedom and democracy. These individuals ”“ our friends, neighbors and relatives ”“ actually changed the course of world history. It is imperative that we reflect on the service and the sacrifice of these people. They were ordinary men and women who did extraordinary things out of a sense of duty, honor and patriotism. Their compelling experiences ought to be an inspiration and example for all Americans.”
