Wreaths Across America set for Somers
Lohud.com readers sponsor wreaths for ceremony honoring warriors who didn't come home.
Wreaths Across America set for Somers Lohud.com readers sponsor wreaths for ceremony honoring warriors who didn't come home. Check out this story on lohud.com: http://lohud.us/1Ag74Zx
Richard Liebson, rliebson@lohud.com Published 1:03 p.m. ET Dec. 10, 2014 | Updated 12:29 p.m. ET Dec. 12, 2014
Dan Griffin from White Plains and Carl Diliberto from Yorktown Heights, both members of Westchester Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 49, prepare ceremonial wreaths for "Wreaths Across America" at the Vietnam Memorial at Lasdon Arboretum and Memorial Park in Somers on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013. ( John Meore/For The Journal News )(Photo: John Meore/For The Journal News)Buy Photo
SOMERS – Service members killed in combat will be honored at Lasdon Park on Saturday, thanks in part to the generosity of Journal News/lohud.com readers.
For the past several years, the Westchester chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America has hosted a "Wreaths Across America" ceremony at the park, placing holiday wreaths at each of the war monuments. This year, the VVA was short on wreaths and put in a call to lohud.com, which ran a story about the need for sponsors.
"We only had 10 wreaths until the story ran, and now we have 70," said Dan Griffin, VVA executive director. "I'd like to thank The Journal News and especially all of the people who made donations. This ceremony is a Christmas tribute to those who never made it home, and now we have all the wreaths we need and then some. I'd like to encourage the public to come out for this – it would mean a lot to the veterans."
Griffin said extra wreaths will be placed along the Fallen Memorial Walkway at the Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla, which remembers local residents who were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He said that in addition to the wreath sponsorships, the VVA received a $250 cash donation from the Somers Lions Club and a number of calls from people who plan to attend the ceremony, which takes place at noon. Lasdon Park is located at 2610 Amawalk Road, Route 35.
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