2016 Veterans Day Weekend
Soldier On was busy during the weekend of Veterans Day. Below is a recap of the various events that Soldier On participated in.
Friday November 11th
Massachusetts
Friday morning Soldier On staff and residents walked in the Pittsfield and Northampton Parades.
Pittsfield – Veterans Day Parade
Northampton – Veterans Day Parade
Soldier On’s kitchen held a prime-rib lunch at the West Housatonic Street location in Pittsfield. In addition the kitchen partook in Springside Rehabilitation & Skilled Care Center‘s Chili Cook-Off. Local restaurants participated in the cook-off: Friends Grille, Hot Dog Ranch, Matt Reilly’s Pub, Patrick’s Pub, PortSmitt’s Lakeway, Zucchini’s Restaurant, and Zuke’s Soups and Variety. The winners were: 1st Place Kim Brophy, 2nd Sprinside, 3rd Soldier On. All proceeds raised were donated to Soldier On.
Left to Right: Soldier On Resident Louann, Women’s Director Sara Scoco, and Soldier On Resident Corinne
Friday afternoon Soldier On former and current residents; Kevin, Russell, Louann, and Corinne spoke at Norman Rockwell Museum’s Veterans Day: Afloat and Ashore: Rockwell’s Soldiers.
Friday evening Sarah Polidore and Casey DiCicco attended a veterans resource fair at Westfield State University. The fair was held prior to the football game against Western Connecticut State University. In addition to it being military appreciation night it was also senior night.
Mississippi
SSVF staff Barbara Parker-Thornton, Preston Williams, Greg Morgan, Robert Payne, Sheron Brown-Gorden, Alvin Buckley, Margaret Johnson and Michael Cohen served Veterans Day lunch to the participants in the Soldier On Statewide Incarcerated Veterans Program at Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Pearl, Mississippi.
Additionally, Alvin Buckley participated in the annual Veterans Day Liberty Luncheon at the Vicksburg Convention Center in Vicksburg.
New Jersey
Left to Right: Jill Lombardozzi, Jose Bracero, Traci Herrman and Jennifer Marshall
On Friday evening SSVF staff Jill Lombardozzi, Jose Bracero, Traci Herrman and Jennifer Marshall attended the GI Go Fund Veterans Day Gala in Newark.
Saturday, November 12th
Massachusetts
Raymour & Flanigan in West Springfield presented Soldier On with a $500 check from their Community Event Outreach Program. In addition the store held a raffle where a $5 donation to Soldier On would allow the customer to be entered into a drawing for a $200.00 gift certificate to Raymour & Flanigan. Soldier On staffed a table during the peak shopping hours on Saturday; Sarah Polidore and Casey DiCicco worked in the morning while Sabrina Willard and Netshari Ortiz worked in the afternoon.
New York
Chris Shortell and Ilian Galan
The 9th Annual Central New York Veterans Parade and Expo was held on Saturday. CNY SSVF staff William Brown, Ilian Galan, and Chris Shortell attended the expo which was in the Center of Progress Building in Syracuse.
Jessica Brooks & Meadow McDowell
Seneca County Veterans Service Agency hosted “Stand Down 2016” at the VFW in Waterloo where Jessica Brooks and Meadow McDowell set up a table at the event.
Sunday, November 13th
Massachusetts
The American Legion Women’s Auxiliary Unit #155 in Dalton held their annual Veterans Dinner Dance. In addition to Soldier On residents attending the following staff were present: Sam Bennett, Sandi Lussier (her husband was in attendance), Steve Como, and Sarah Polidore (her husband was in attendance).
New York
Albany County Sheriff’s Office presented Soldier On with the Patriotism Recognition Award at the Siena College men’s basketball game against Cornell University. Dominick Sondrini, New York SSVF Supervisor, accepted the award and spoke on behalf of Soldier On. Prior to the game Katrina Middleton set up a table providing information on Soldier On in the main concourse of the Times Union Center.
