CARMEL- One hundred veterans gathered at the Putnam Veterans Hall in Carmel to break bread together while being connected with resources available throughout the region.
The luncheon sponsored by Putnam-Westchester Assemblyman Matt Slater provided veterans with an opportunity to connect with fellow service members, speak directly with local officials, and learn more about benefits, programs and services available to veterans and their families. Representatives from veterans’ organizations and community partners were on hand to provide information.
Slater said he sponsors the annual luncheon to say “thank you. The people who served our nation deserve more than our gratitude; they deserve to know their community is here for them and they have access to the resources and support they earned through their service.”
The purpose of the event was to build connections: “Whether it’s helping a veteran learn about a benefit they didn’t know was available, connecting them with an organization that can help or simply giving old friends the chance to sit down and share a meal, it’s all part of making sure our veterans know they have a strong community standing behind them,” said Slater.
Karl Rohde, Director of the Putnam Veteran Services Agency, described the event as special: “It is always a good day when veterans can get together and share a meal to relive past comradeships. When information about the needs of veterans is also shared at such a gathering, the event is elevated even more.”
Jack Duncan of Southeast, a Marine Corps vet said the day was “outstanding for Putnam’s veterans, young and old, especially for those who may not know about all the benefits and resources available to them. Having all these resources in one place made a real difference for our veterans.”
Comments