Attention veterans and those in military service: If you’ve served in the military during the last 20 years, Riverhead wants to say “Thank You.”
Veterans, active members and reservists who have served from the Persian Gulf War forward will be honored at a town-wide dinner on March 10 at Polish Hall.
“It’s high time that the town says ‘thank you’ and ‘welcome home’ to those who have served,” said Liz Stokes of Riverhead, who is organizing the event, dubbed “Operation Forever Grateful,” with Aquebogue resident Linda Hulse and Riverhead Councilman John Dunleavy.
Stokes, the circulation director at Riverhead Free Library, is passionate about veterans issues and has spearheaded other efforts to help or honor them, such as collecting food and clothing donations for area veterans homes.
“The town did nothing for the Vietnam vets,” Stokes said. “We need to learn from our mistakes and acknowledge our veterans for their service.”
Stokes decided to put the ceremony together after hearing from members of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars group that they feel like they have to “fight for everything in this town.”
“When I went to the recruiting station to ask how many vets live in Riverhead, [the recruiter] put his head down and he said, ‘Do you know how much this is gonna mean to these guys?'” Stokes recalls. “They don’t feel appreciated,” she said.
“We have to make sure that veterans in Riverhead know that their town appreciates and respects them,” she said.
Veterans and members of service will be presented with proclamations from the Town of Riverhead at the dinner. Stokes is also working with the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce to put together gift baskets for veterans with items donated by local businesses.
Stokes, Hulse and Dunleavy are asking local businesses and residents to sponsor the guests of honor, by purchasing one or more dinner tickets for them. The cost of a ticket is $27.75 — the price charged by the catering hall for the event, Stokes notes.
If you’ve served in the military from the Persian Gulf War onward and would like to be recognized at the dinner, or if you’d like to sponsor one or more tickets for the guests of honor, contact Liz Stokes at 631-727-3228 ext 123 or Linda Hulse at 631-727-3200 ext 253.
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