Donnellan, who has served at the agency for three decades, leads by example. He tells of his own catastrophic injury — riddled with shrapnel, a leg blown off in battle during the Vietnam War. He frequently discusses personal and ongoing struggles with post-traumatic stress. He has worked closely with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs but has called out its shortcomings loudly and repeatedly.
Donnellan, 70, has done much to make sure local vets are remembered and properly honored. He worked for years to get notification from the VA when a servicemember returned home. He helped establish FAVOR, which stands for Find and Assist Vets of Rockland, which provides discounts from local merchants. He helped establish the county's Public Service Medal to honor those who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, or as part of the global war on terrorism. These and similar efforts, though, were also about connecting with local veterans who may be wary of government. That way, his office could provide support and advocacy now or whenever it was needed.”
These Words Delivered in Loving Tribute... for it was the vision held by Jerry Donnellan that these words were made known... Camp Shanks Memorial, 70th Anniversary and V-E Day. at the Piermont Pier, Piermont, New York
To Honor Those Who Lived a Cause
Flowers and flags in devoted array
A loving tribute in homage this day
To honor those who lived a cause
This moment, this day, and so a pause
Hearts and souls in valor known
Right Intention and devotion shown
Battlefields of victory and plight
Through all beheld freedom’s light
Answered they did to liberty’s plea
That freedom be held for a you, a me
Sons and daughters, husbands and wives
Children of purpose have given their lives
The breath of freedom an endowment divine
Bequeathed to life yours, life mine
With valor and sacrifice they gave
And embraced the call yet to be brave
In memorial and reverence gather we
For held be the right that we live free
Memory of each life gone never to fade
Live we life’s blessings for sacrifice made.
Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York
