New homes for veterans unveiled in Tappan

Homeless veterans have been a priority John Murphy, a decorated World War II Marine who continued to serve his country on the Rockland County Legislature for a record-breaking 44 years. While he is now retired from government, he has not retired from advocating for fellow veterans.

Ten years after the first round of veteran housing was built under the Rockland Homes for Heroes project, another 14 units on Independence Drive have been added adjacent to the site of the Camp Shanks Memorial. Over one servicemen and women shipped out from Camp Shanks in anticipation of D-Day in Europe, and Murphy has not forgotten those who returned home, only to find themselves without a place to live.

The new apartments will be “forever” homes for those veterans qualifying for a unit; each one is fully furnished and equipped with appliances. The homes are complemented by a community room for gatherings and where supportive services will be provided to residents.

Murphy, 89, thanked his unsalaried Board of Directors for their service and gave a special shout out to Paul Adler of Rand Commercial Realty for his assistance with the project. The NYS Office of Temporary Disability and Assistance’s $4 million grant, along with Rockland County’s contribution of $800,000 to the project, made the housing a reality. Rand Realty also donated $10,000 to the help with furnishing the new apartments.

Gov. Kathy Hochul attended the ribbon cutting for the supportive housing. “This is one of the best parts of my job…to come to places where we are transforming peoples’ lives. To John Murphy and his board of directors, Paul Adler and Rand Commercial Realty and all who care so deeply, Camp Shanks  was the place that countless New Yorkers saw as their last sight before they sailed to D-Day fight the Nazis. Let us be reunited with that same passion for the United States of America and to the one percent in today’s volunteer Army that have stepped up to the plate so the 99 percent can sleep in peace.”