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Mid-Hudson News: Putnam County Honors Mothers of Military Servicemen

Putnam County Honors Mothers of Military Servicemen
 
CARMEL – Gold Star Mothers, those who have lost a child in a foreign war, were honored Sunday at a ceremony at the Putnam County Veteran’s Memorial Park in Carmel. Blue Star Mothers, whose children are serving in the military, were also honored.
 
Organized by the Putnam County Joint Veteran’s Council, the ceremony was held at the Gold Star Mothers National Monument, a statue of a mother stricken with shock and anguish upon hearing of the death of her son or daughter. 
 
Among the attendees were County Executive Maryellen Odell, Congresswoman Nan Hayworth, and Putnam County Sheriff Donald Smith, a Vietnam veteran who feels deeply about support for service members’ families.
 
“I can remember when I was in Vietnam [my mother] was always concerned”, Smith said.  “Even a recruiter’s car coming to town would upset her because she was always worrying every day that I was in a combat zone.”
 
Congresswoman Hayworth spoke of the inspiration and strong character which made Gold Star Mothers cherished members of their communities as representatives not only for themselves, but for their sons and daughters.
 
“They are a direct link to the ones who cannot be present with us, but whose presence, of course, is everywhere,” Hayworth stated.
 
The year 2012 was a particularly significant one for the monument, as artist Andrew Chernak’s wife, who served as the model for the monument, passed away a week before the ceremony in Carmel. The statue, which was cast and erected for several different memorials, will be cast one last time for Arlington National Cemetery.
 
This article was written by Hank Gross, published by Mid-Hudson News on October 1, 2012, and can be found here.