On Saturday July 21, 2018, Putnam County held its inaugural "Medal of Honor" parade. Several hundreds spectators lined the route in Carmel to watch the Army and Marine Color Guard along with the 10th Division Army band escort the Grand Marshals Paul Bucha and Robert O'Malley up Gleneida Ave to the historic Putnam County Courthouse. Local fire departments such as Brewster, Carmel and Lake Carmel joined local officials along with several dozen community and service groups ranging from the Emerald Society of Putnam County to United for the Troops in celebrating local residents and Medal of Honor winners, Paul Bucha and Robert O'Malley, along with the rest of NY States residents who have been recipients of this prestigious award.
Upon conclusion of the parade, a ceremony honoring Mr. Bucha and Mr. O'Malley was held on the main steps of the County courthouse and Emcee Eric Gross thanked everyone for attending and pointed out the local dignitaries and officials which include County Executive MaryEllen Odell, State Senators Terence Murphy and Sue Serino, Assemblyman Kevin Byrne and Putnam County Legislature Chairman Joe Castellano. After the invocation by Father Szymon Kuplos of St. James the Apostle and rousing rendition of the National Anthem by Master Sgt. Mary Kay Messenger of the U.S. Army band at West Point which really seamed to get the crowd of several hundred into the spirit of the day. County Executive Odell spoke regarding the sacrifices our Armed Forces make every day and awarded Flags on the County Row of Honor along Lake Gleneida's shores to the Medal of Honor winning Grand Marshals Bucha and O'Malley and declared that the Row of Honor will continuously be in place every day from Memorial Day though the end of November. Rita Cosby, founder of the NY State Medal of Honor Committee spoke of working on the committee for the last ten years and how happy she was to be attending the first parade. She recounted the story of her fathers life in the Polish Resistance when Germany invaded Poland and how he escaped from a German prison of war camp at 15, along with several others who walked for days without food or water until they were spotted by a US plane whose pilot dropped them a chocolate bar and a note informing them they no longer in enemy infested area but and keep going west to the allied lines for 15 miles and freedom. She then recounted how her father chose to emigrate to the US because of that experience and that he never happier then the day he became an American Citizen. Miss Cosby then implored Governor Cuomo to sign Legislation, passed by both the Assembly and Senate declaring every July 25th, Medal of Honor winner recognition day in NY.
Karle Rohde, director of the Putnam County Veterans Services Agency closed the ceremony with his usual flair and speech which forever holds true, "There 5 reasons were are free. The Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and the Coast Guard".
A small vendor fair was held immediately afterwards behind the courthouse where attendees could get some food or drink from several vendor and merchandise such as t-shirts or books on the several wars the US has been involved in over the last two centuries. Several attendees in the crowd said they were looking to next year's parade to show our county's thanks to Medal of Honor recipients and all those who serve our country.
For over 75 photos of the event visit our Facebook Album.