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Media > Ceremony Honors American Heroes – Veterans Group Lifts POW-MIA Flag at Northeast Center for Special Care
Lake Katrine, NY, May 31, 2007 -- In a ceremony to honor US military veterans who are Missing-In-Action or who are Prisoners of War, veterans from the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars gathered together with veterans who are Residents of the Northeast Center for Special Care and with veterans who are members of the staff of the Center, and other dignitaries, for a presentation and raising of the POW-MIA flag - a symbol of courage, honor and resolve. With a crowd spilling out from a tent protecting spectators from a blazing afternoon sun, the outdoor ceremony was held on the campus of the Northeast Center for Special Care on May 31, 2007. In attendance were Resident-Neighbors who are participating in rehabilitation programs for traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, ventilator dependency and respiratory conditions at the Center, their family members, and members of the staff of the Northeast Center. Joining them were veterans from the Ulster County NY community; as well as: US Congressman Maurice Hinchey; Tracey Brooks, Regional Director for Senator Hillary Clinton; Al Etkin, Department of NY Vice Commander of the American Legion, Adjutant Ira Weiner of the Ulster County American Legion; Ulster County Commander Harold Rosenkranse of the American Legion Post 1219; Ulster County Legislators Jeanette Provenzano, Brian Cahill, and Dr Peter Liepmann; Father John Kearney of St. Catherine Laboure Roman Catholic Church; and residents of the community. In the opening remarks Northeast Center for Special Care Founder and President Anthony Salerno said: “In every generation, ordinary citizens have answered the call of service to our country. These patriots have defended our freedom and our way of life. There is no freedom without courage and sacrifice. It is our soldiers who have won our freedom and who have always preserved it. The POW-MIA flag is a reminder of our continued commitment to those brave heroes imprisoned while serving in conflicts around the world, and of our pledge to never cease our efforts to find them, and to bring them home, and to continue to demand the fullest possible accounting for all our men and women in uniform who are still missing. Were it not for our veterans, we might not have the freedom to be here today.” Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the Star Spangled Banner, and a prayer by Father Kearney; with the Color Guard at attention, Commander Rosenkranse and Adjutant Weiner conducted the formal POW-MIA flag raising service pursuant to the Officer’s Guide, including the very moving “missing man” table ceremony: http://www.aiipowmia.com/histories/histcere1.html The POW-MIA flag was presented to Ann Marie Belcher, CEO of Northeast Center for Special Care, by Commander Rosenkranse, and all who were able stood with rapt attention at the raising of the flag. Attendees who could not stand lifted a hand or simply held their head up in pride as the POW-MIA flag was raised in an emotional ceremony followed by a 21 gun salute and the playing of Taps. The assembly then sang America the Beautiful and God Bless America, backed by the Northeast Center Band composed of Resident-Neighbors and Staff of the Center. Before the teary-eyed spectators, Joyce Garee, a Veteran and a Staff member of the Northeast Centers Veterans Committee, then spoke and read the names of each of the seventy two Resident Neighbors and the Staff members at Northeast Center for Special Care who are US Veterans. Ms Garee thanked each of them for their service to our country, to sustained applause by all the attendees. Northeast Center Medical Director Dr. Richard A. Hodder, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.P., (USAR, Ret), shared memories as a soldier-physician, and spoke about the honor bestowed on Northeast Center by the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Commander Rosenkranse then presented Anthony Salerno with a Certificate of Appreciation from the American Legion for the Northeast Center for Special Care in recognition of outstanding service to veterans. Over the years Northeast Center has been an advocate for and has participated with the Ulster County American Legion in Flag Day and Veterans Day ceremonies and has sought recognition for the service and sacrifice made by its many Residents and Staff who are US military Veterans. Ulster County Legislators, Brian Cahill, Jeanette Provenzano, and Dr. Peter Liepmann, then presented Mr. Salerno with a Pride of Ulster County award in recognition of the Northeast Center for Special Care’s “Ability and Willingness to Treat Brain Injured War Veterans,” a special award from the Ulster County Legislature. The ceremonies were punctuated by the poignant remarks of US Representative Maurice Hinchey, who had served in the US Navy, and who had just supported increases in funding for military and veterans’ health care, as he reminded all of our duty to “never forget” to honor the soldiers who have served our country and to support them and their families. He reminded all that brain injury is the signature injury of the Iraq War. The emotional ceremony was especially moving for the injured Veterans who are Residents of the Northeast Center and their Families and the many Staff members of the Center who are Veterans. A Resident from his wheelchair embraced Northeast Center CEO Ann Belcher and his sister summed it up when she said “you have no idea how much this means to us, to him.” Media contact: Northeast Center for Special Care, Beth Faichney, Media and Public Relations Director 845-336-3500 Founded in 1999, Northeast Center for Special Care is a unique inpatient facility designed to serve medically complex and multiply impaired individuals with brain injury, spinal cord injury, neurobehavioral disorders, ventilator and respiratory care needs and other complex medical needs. Advanced professional skills and innovative therapies are coupled with an unwavering belief in the potential of every individual to progress. It is this belief that drives our commitment to help those recovering at Northeast Center achieve the highest degree of rehabilitation possible and to reenter the community. Back
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