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April 7, 2003
April 12th
Military and Veteran Outreach Event
Poughkeepsie... Many veteran groups, departments of county government and
local service agencies are gearing up for the community outreach event which
has been organized for all Dutchess County veterans, military personnel and
their children, spouses, parents and other family members. The
county-sponsored gathering will take place on Saturday, April 12, from 10 AM
to 3 PM at Dutchess Community College in the Drumlin Hall cafeteria.
According to County Executive Bill Steinhaus, “We’re reaching out extensively
to the community and invitations have been widely distributed. I attended a
planning meeting last Thursday and was extremely gratified to learn that over
seventy agency representatives have signed up to be available at the college
that day for this community event. These experienced personnel plan to have
information about services, benefits and entitlements which are available to
military personnel and their families. There will be workshops on stress
reduction and relaxation. The veterans organizations, under the direction of
American Legion Commander Peter Pavelock, will come equipped with many
handouts for those attending, including flags, bumper stickers, decals and
other patriotic items. Several organizations are planning to distribute
yellow ribbons.”
Dutchess County American Legion Commander Peter Pavelock, representing 18
American Legion posts in the county with more than 2500 members, commented,
“As Commander of the American Legion of Dutchess County, I speak for our
members in saying we are in full support of our troops. We are also in full
support of the County Executive’s invitation to local military families for a
community event to let them know of the full array of support resources and
services available – the American Legion will be there to offer our
assistance and to help take care of local military families and the veterans
in our community.”
Organizations participating in addition to the County Departments of Health,
Mental Hygiene, Social Services, Veterans Affairs, Youth Bureau, and Aging,
include Project Liberty, the Dutchess County Clerk’s Office, Veterans of
Foreign Wars, Saint Francis Hospital, Mental Health Association in Dutchess
County, Inc., Family Services, Inc., Lexington Center for Recovery, Inc.,
Dutchess County BOCES, American Red Cross, United Way of Dutchess County, VA
Hudson Valley, Family Partnership Center, Astor Home for Children, and the
New York State Division of Veterans Affairs.
“At this time, I would like to express my appreciation to Dr. David Conklin
and Dean W. John Dunn of Dutchess Community College who so graciously offered
the services of the college on such short notice and have been so
accommodating to County Government staff in making the necessary
arrangements,” Steinhaus said.
Transportation from the parking lot to the Drumlin Hall cafeteria will be
provided by the Dutchess County trolley.
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