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Health & Fitness

Community Asked To Sponsor Local WWII Veterans For Special D.C. Trip

Brewster, N.Y. – 8/13/2013 – Five local World War II veterans gathered at Senator Greg Ball’s (R, C, I – Patterson) district office to prepare for their upcoming Washington D.C. trip. The veterans shared their stories on a video that can be watched by clicking here.

Senator Greg Ball, Heroes in Transition and the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 21, have planned a free road trip for 50 local WWII veterans to visit the National WWII Memorial in Washington, DC on Tuesday, September 17, 2013.

Senator Ball has pledged to host the trip completely free of charge for all the veterans that attend. Senator Ball said that about half the money needed has already been raised but is urging members of the community to help reach the $5,000 goal before the September 17th trip.

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“It is so wonderful to see the community come together to help send these heroes to see the national monument built in their honor. I am proud to announce that so far we have raised $2,200; we are almost half way to our fundraising goal of $5,000! However, we are running out of time and need help in this final push,” said Senator Greg Ball, Chairman of the Senate Veterans, Homeland Security. “According to the Veteran’s Administration, our World War II veterans are dying at a rate of 600 per day. These brave men and women gave so much to fight for our nation’s safety and freedom and it is my honor to give them an opportunity to see the national monument that was created in honor of their service.”

Heroes in Transition, a sponsor of the event, is accepting donations to help pay for the busing and food for the veterans. Anyone interested in donating can go to the Heroes in Transition’s website: heroesintransition.org and make a donation online. Checks can also be made payable to Heroes In Transition and sent to 22 Bates Road, Suite 135, Mashpee, MA 02649.

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Residents can sponsor an individual WWII veterans’ trip for $100. They can also sponsor anything from a lunch for $25, all the way up to a bus for $1,000. Those that sponsor a veteran will receive a signed thank you letter along with a picture and video from the trip.

Two chartered buses will leave from Senator Ball’s District Office in Brewster, NY and take the veterans to Washington D.C., where they will place a wreath at memorial the in honor of all WWII veterans from the 40th Senate District.

“Heroes in Transition has been providing assistance to veterans in honor of fallen Marine Captain Eric A. Jones since 2010,” said Heroes in Transition President Michael Warshaw. “It is our honor to be able to help these American heroes finally see the WWII memorial and also find peace by being able pay their final respects to their dear friends and fellow military servicemen and women who lost their lives in WWII.”

“We deeply appreciate all the efforts of Senator Ball and Heroes in Transition to make this trip possible,” said Eugene Parrotta, Chair of Senator Greg Ball’s Veteran’s Advisory Council, and member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. “We are excited that these WWII veterans will get a chance to see the monument that was built in their honor.”

“I think it’s good to be patriotic and to serve your county. We certainly should honor all our veterans no matter what war or military action they have been involved in. I am proud that I served and I think everyone that serves should be proud,” said George Merritt of Somers. “Visiting the monument means a lot to me. I haven’t been to Washington for years and years. I am very proud of the monument and excited to see it.”

“Most people that I went to school with were very patriotic. I did 6 months at Brooklyn college then was drafted right from there,” said Peter Senatore of Pound Ridge. “I am very excited to visit the monument. I didn’t have much a part of it, but this monument was built for this generation. This generation, when I look at it, is a generation that was gung-ho and I think we changed the word.”

“Visiting the World War II Monument means quite a bit to me,” said Joseph Arena of Yorktown. “I think being in the army was a real experience and I believe our youth should serve, even for just a term. The discipline you take out of it could be very good for today’s youth.”

“I think about the war every day, every time I look up to the sky, every time I see a plane and at night when it gets dark,” said Frank Tempistilli of Yorktown. “I have never been down to visit the monument and I can’t wait to go see it.”

“I can’t get over it that Senator Ball is doing all of this for us veterans. It’s not only for me but it’s for all WWII veterans,” said Norman Berenback of Brewster. “I think it’s important for everyone to know how much we really appreciate this.”

“When we knew Norman was about to leave for Europe he would get 24 hour passes to leave base. When he would get a pass, I would meet him down in New York City and spend all the time I could with him. He told me, ‘the day I don’t call you, you know I shipped out’, and then that day finally happened. It was a tough time,” said Shirley about her husband Norman. “It’s really wonderful that Senator Ball is putting together this trip. We certainly appreciate it.”

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