Westchester County’s veterans are being invited to a special Memorial Day tribute on Sunday, May 30, that includes a day of fun and rides at Playland park in Rye.
Fordham University's Veterans Task Group is a co-sponsor.
Veterans and Service Member Appreciation Day give thanks to local veterans while offering an entertaining day filled with military pomp to other visitors enjoying the park. In keeping with recent tradition, a helicopter search and rescue demo by the U.S. Marine Corps will highlight the event, which will run from 1 p.m. to midnight.
Co-chairs for the FordhamVets Task Group, Peter Vaughan, Ph.D., dean of the Graduate School of Social Service, and Michael Gillan, associate vice president of Fordham’s Westchester campus, will give brief remarks at the event.
The more traditional Memorial Day ceremony will include an honor guard, firing squad and bugler, and be held at 2:30 p.m. at the Music Tower Theater. The Marine Corps demo will be from 3-5 p.m. (weather and aircraft permitting).
The Marines Corps demo includes landing and manning a perimeter while two gunships provide “cover.” A gunnery sergeant will provide a narrative as the helicopters complete their show and then open to the public for tours. After the demonstration, the helicopters will be available for public display along with the weapons typically used by a Marine Corps rifle platoon. The participating Marines are part of a Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force from 8th Marines, Camp Lejeune, NC.
As part of the daylong event, military personnel in uniform, OEF/OIF veterans and veterans in an organization cap or uniform will get free rides all day. Other veterans and their family members as well as active duty military personnel will get special ride offers and discounts.
Parking passes (for those who didn’t pre-register) will be distributed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and ride band registration will be from noon to 6 p.m. Veterans must show their DD-214 papers, a VA ID or a current membership card to a veteran organization.
Veterans are asked to pre-register and get a pass for free parking. Stop by the Veterans Service Agency, 112 E. Post Road, Room 442, White Plains, or call (914) 995-2146.
-Gina Vergel
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