Mt. Pleasant Celebrates U.S. Army’s Anniversary, Flag Day in Ceremony
Sunday was a great day to be in Mount Pleasant to pay tribute to an extraordinary group of men and women who after nearly two-and-a-half centuries continue to help make America great.
American Legion Post 112 in Hawthorne rolled out the welcome mat to help commemorate the 240th anniversary of the creation of the U.S. Army. As part of the hour-long ceremony outside Mount Pleasant Town Hall in Valhalla, local Boy Scouts led a flag-raising ceremony in honor of Flag Day and later two additional names were added to the town’s Medal of Honor monument.
Peter Fiumefreddo, commander of Post 112, said the post was approached by the local branch of the Army’s Bronx Company recruiting station, which includes Westchester in its territory, to host a celebration for the special anniversary of the United States’ largest military branch. Fiumefreddo and his brethren jumped at the chance to be part of the program.
“We try to do more to get the Army recognized,” he said. “We are all proud veterans. That’s why we do it.”
The older veterans were joined by a group of today’s Army officers as well as future soldiers who have enlisted and were given their incoming oath by Lt. Col. Michael Stinnett, New York City recruiting battalion commander. They will be on their way to basic training this month.
For the Army’s anniversary’s celebration, it is a longstanding tradition for the cake to be cut with an officer’s saber, which was done with a large sheet cake. The oldest serving soldier then presents the youngest with a piece of cake.
Speakers at the event included Capt. Abigail Tassa, who served as the grand marshal for the parade that ended at Town Hall, and Rita Cosby, a network news correspondent, who has covered the Unites States military and whose father was a World War II prisoner of war.
Tassa said serving one’s country sometimes comes at a steep price, but it is one that soldiers don’t hesitate to pay.
“Of the soldiers standing here in front of you, I will tell you we are all well aware of the costs that freedom comes to all of us,” Tassa said.
Not only does the U.S. Army serve and protect Americans, but also people who are seeking freedom around the globe. Cosby recounted the story of her father, who was born in Poland and as a teenager fought in the Polish resistance after the Nazi invasion at the start of World War II.
After five years of fighting, her emaciated father was one of about 60 prisoners who escaped a Nazi POW camp and headed out into a forest. Soon after, American planes were flying overhead and they dropped a note to tell the escapees that if they walked 15 miles to the American lines, they would be free.
All these years later, the story still brings tears to Cosby’s father’s eyes.
“I tell you that story to tell you what you represent, not just to this country, but what you represent to people in Poland and in so many countries all over the world,” Cosby said. “You are the greatest military. We are so blessed to be an American.”
Before refreshments were served, Fiumefreddo unveiled the latest two names that were engraved into the town’s Medal of Honor monument, which lists all 92 New York recipients of the highest award a soldier can receive.
William Shemin and Henry Johnson, who fought in World War I, were recently recognized in a ceremony at the White House with President Obama. Shemin, who was Jewish, and Johnson, who was black, exhibited extraordinary bravery while serving on the front lines in France in 1918, but were denied the Medal of Honor because of discrimination.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
