Letter to the editor: What a great community we live in!

On Saturday November 12th we hosted a Thanksgiving Dinner for over 600 Veterans at the Mahopac Fire House. Let me be perfectly blunt: we could not have done it without the outpouring of community support from local businesses, organizations and hundreds of volunteers. By the close of the event we had over 200 Volunteers and 20 businesses volunteer their time and donate food for our Veterans. As each Veteran entered the fire house they were met by a standing ovation from all the volunteers and Ill tell you there wasnt a single dry eye in the Mahopac Fire House. I would like to personally thank each and every volunteer and business that made this special event possible. Including: The Mahopac Fire House, Putnam National Golf Club, Red Mills Market, Villa Barone, Four Brothers, Il Forno, Jessie's Deli, Cardillo's Deli, Dish, Somers 202, The Terrace Club, Stew Leonard's, Taste Deli, Peter Pratts, Rocco's (Mahopac), Barton's, Kessman's, Dykeman's, Mahopac Flower Shop, Pepsi Winworks, The Civil Air Patrol, Somers Primrose Elementary School, 151 grill, Bob-B-Q, The Montrose VA Hospital, Deputy County Executive John Tully, the Putnam County Department of Health and many more. I would also like to especially thank Somers Teacher Erica Massimi who worked tirelessly to make this event a great success, Putnam County Executive Paul Eldridge who spent six hours in the kitchen carving turkeys, Assemblyman Steve Katz and his family who prepared countless turkeys, Mahopac, Somers and Lakeland Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops, The 8th Grade Mahopac Football Team and everyone else who helped. Lastly, I would like to thank the Veterans that have served our country and that continue to serve this amazing community every day. It is because of you, that we live in great and free nation.

Sincerely, Senator Greg Ball Chairman, Veterans, Homeland Security And Military Affairs Committee