Roosevelt Island Honors Local Residents At Veterans Day Ceremony Yesterday - NYPD Honor Guard, Distinguished Speakers, Girl Scouts Recite Pledge Of Allegiance, Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance Children Sing Medley Of Patriotic Songs & More

Today, November 11 is Veterans Day.

 According to History.com:

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as "the Great War." Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars...

Roosevelt Island celebrated Veterans Day yesterday

with a ceremony honoring local veterans

organized by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) and attended by a standing room only crowd of residents of all ages.

The Roosevelt Island Veterans Day celebration speakers included RIOC President Susan Rosenthal, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Joel Evans, deputy commissioner of the NYS Division of Veterans Affairs; Lyn Johnson, USMC Veteran, MSW and Veterans Administration Outreach Specialist and RIOC) Board member and veteran David Kraut.

According to Mr. Kraut:

... I'm proud of my service. I'm proud of the service of all my brothers and sisters in arms over the years. As so you heard or figured out, we have served in every corner of the world defending the rights and freedoms that many Americans take for granted. ... I'm pleased and proud to be a resident and Board member of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp....

There were performances from the NYPD Honor Guard, the Main Street Theater and Dance Alliance and the Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts as well as food and refreshments catered by Nisi Restaurant.

The NYPD Honor Guard began the Roosevelt Island Veterans Day Ceremony with the presentation of Colors and singing the National Anthem followed by the Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts reciting the Pledge of Allegiance,



speakers,



Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance children, led by Director Kimbirdlee Fadner, honoring Roosevelt Island veterans with a medley of patriotic songs



and audience members recited names of Veterans they remember today.



The Roosevelt Island Veterans Day celebration began as an initiative from RIOC Director David Kraut, inspired by a suggestion several years ago by decorated World War 2 Veteran and Roosevelt Island resident Dominic Sciallo,

  Image From NY State Senate Veterans Hall Of Fame

to establish a Veterans Center on Roosevelt Island.

Mr Sciallo passed away in 2015, but his suggestion of a Roosevelt Island Veterans Center may come to pass. RIOC is actively exploring ways to establish a Roosevelt Island Veterans Center.

The Twitterverse reports on the Roosevelt Island Veterans Day Celebration.

Father George at today’s Veterans Day Ceremony on Roosevelt Island. Please take the time to thank a veteran for their service to our Nation this weekend. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/lDsUc1NxJ8

— NYPD Chaplains Unit (@NYPDchaplains) November 11, 2018

Thrilled to celebrate the new veterans center on Roosevelt Island! Thank you to all who have bravely served our country in the armed forces and have made so many sacrifices on behalf of our freedom. We are forever in your debt. pic.twitter.com/QOXiSzyCzf

— Carolyn B. Maloney (@CarolynBMaloney) November 10, 2018

More on the history



of Veterans Day.

Thank you all for your service.

Kudos the RIOC for organizing Roosevelt Island Veterans Day Celebration.