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Sen. Greg Ball (R,C,I-Patterson), who serves as chairman of the Senate Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee, asked towns, villages and cities throughout his district to nominate a veteran for the Hall of Fame. Ball recently announced the nominees and is set to honor the 27 selected in the ceremony at 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21at Mahopac Falls School.
Dale Beatty, co-founder of Purple Heart Homes and a 2013 CNN Hero nominee, is set to give the keynote speech for the ceremony. In addition to Beatty, Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson will receive an award on behalf of his father, Ralph Anderson of Buchanan. Anderson, a native of Buchanan, is in command of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg in North Carolina.
“I created the Veterans Hall of Fame to honor outstanding individuals who have nobly and selflessly served the United States of America. Nominated by their communities, these heroic men and women have pursued a distinguished path in both their military and civilian lives, demonstrating admirable qualities and reaching great achievements worthy of this recognition,” said Ball in a press release. “These extraordinary veterans devoted their lives to a cause greater than one’s self, nobly dedicating themselves to preserving the safety and freedom of the American people through acts of courage, honor and integrity.”
Beatty said in the release that he and John Gallina, co-founder of Purple Heart Homes, were humbled to be honored at the event.
“We believe we are no different – all veterans are alike. We are faced with the same challenges of age, disability and life challenges,” said Beatty in the release. “At Purple Heat Homes we ask all of our Service Connected Disabled Veterans to pay it forward, to make a difference in their community or the lives of others. To help carry on the mission at home – utilizing the training we learned in the military to be true humanitarians. I am truly honored to be among those that will be inducted into the third annual Veterans Hall of Fame. We want to absorb their experience and wisdom so we can and my generation can truly continue to make our country great at home.”
Each veteran honored at the ceremony will also be included on a traveling wall that will tour local municipalities and schools throughout the 40th district.
The complete list of the 3rd Annual Veterans’ Hall of Fame Nominees are below:
- Beekman, Lt Col. Gerald Richardson
- Brewster, Staff Sgt. Steven Mattson
- Buchanan, Chief Fire Controlman Ralph Anderson
- Buchanan, Cpl.Joseph Occhipinti
- Carmel, Yeoman 3rd Class Yvonne Rustico
- Carmel, Capt. Edmund Francis Duncan (Posthumously)
- Cortlandt, Fire Control 3rd Class George Price
- Croton-On-Hudson, Gunners Mate 3rd Class Joseph Turturro
- Hawthorne, Sgt. E-5 Giuseppe "Joe" Tanzi
- Kent, Staff Sgy. Charles Connor
- Lewisboro, Pfc. Daniel Sant
- Montrose, Pfc. Paul Raphael
- Mt. Kisco, Cpl. John Hvisch
- Mt. Pleasant, Petty Officer Ronald Rose
- Mt. Pleasant, Cpl. Edmund Burke
- New Castle, Staff Sgt. Mark Blindman
- North Salem, Sgt. Andrew Sandor
- Patterson, Sgt. Anthony Nacerino
- Pawling, Sgt. Michael Kelly
- Peekskill, Cpl. Charles Wassil, Jr. (Posthumously)
- Pleasantville, Capt. Scott Elliott
- Putnam Valley, Specialist 4th Class Charles Monte
- Putnam Valley, Specialist Laurence Gibbs
- Somers, Pfc. Nicholas Lapenna
- Southeast, Tech-5 Class Donald Pippin
- Yorktown, Sgt. Dimitri Sywyk
- Yorktown, Sgt. William Lewis
For more information, email jbachmei@nysenate.gov or call 845-531-9796.
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