Veterans Find ‘F.A.V.O.R.’ with Putnam’s Row of Honor

by Theresa Oliver

The success of Putnam County’s Row of Honor is made possible because of the unwavering support it has received from the veterans community. As a thank you, the county is extending, as part of its Return the F.A.V.O.R. program, a 25 percent discount to those veterans who want to sponsor a flag.

 The Row of Honor, 100 American flags lining the shore of Lake Gleneida in the hamlet of Carmel, N.Y. pays homage to the men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, law enforcement or emergency services. Done twice a year, for Memorial Day and Veterans Day, the flags serve as a visually striking and poignant reminder of those who have served and those who have died in service to their country.

“The Row of Honor was created by my administration, with help of the Joint Veterans Council, as a way to publicly say thank you to our veterans of yesteryear and today,” said Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell. “These men and women have given so much to not only our county, but our country, and we want to take any opportunity we can to show our gratitude. By offering veterans a discounted rate on the flag sponsorship through the county’s Return the F.A.V.O.R. Program is one more way we can show our thankfulness.”

The Return the F.A.V.O.R. (Find and Assist Veterans of Record) Program in Putnam County offers discounts and/or complimentary services at participating merchants to any customer that has a FAVOR card. Veterans can obtain a FAVOR card by filing their discharge (DD214) paper with the county clerk’s office.

The program, which first launched in 2010, has nearly 1,100 veterans living in Putnam, participating and over 200 merchants signed up. 

“Offering this discount for the Row of Honor to FAVOR members just makes perfect sense,” said Deputy County Clerk Michael Bartolotti. “It’s a ‘win-win’ for both the FAVOR Program and the Row of Honor.  Both of these programs were implemented to assist our veteran community and to pay tribute and thanks to the men and women that served in our nation’s armed services.”

The Row of Honor was inaugurated in 2012 as a fundraiser to support various veterans’ projects. The flags were so well received we decided to make the Row of Honor a semi-annual event. This season, money raised will go to support the restoration of the Veterans Chapel located at Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park in Kent.

In addition to the lakeside stream of stars and stripes, there will be flags representing the Fraternal Order of Police as well as sailors, soldiers and airmen that served our country.

Sponsorships for a flag, which will be erected during the first full week in May, can be purchased for $100 each. Members of the Return the F.A.V.O.R. program can purchase flags for $75 each.

Checks should be made out to the Joint Veterans Council and sent to them at Putnam County Veterans Affairs Office, Donald B. Smith Government Campus, 110 Old Route 6, Bldg. 3, Carmel, N.Y. 10512.  For more information about the Row of Honor, call Mimi at (845) 808-1620.

For more information about the Return the F.A.V.O.R. Program, call Michael Bartolotti at 845-808-1142 ext. 49303.