Veterans Day Tribute 2019...

Words delivered In tribute this Veterans Day, 2019

The gifts of LIFE with vision blessed and bold

This the giving within each Veteran's story told

Loyalty, dedication, ascending care be they known

This in valor by our sons and daughters shown

Courage to hold to freedom's call and light

In perseverance the challenge be it day or night

Fortitude, strength, imbued with heart's noble call

Sacrifices of body, limb, in this a growing toll

And when returned to home's welcomed shore and land

Let us in caring response put support in command

It is resolve that humanity calls to be known

Within the grasps of faith, love and TRUTH be shown

The dream yet dreamed shall unfold

And PEACE to be our story told

This gift of knowing to mark the rising way

And we in tribute give honor to our Veterans this very day.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Poet Laureate

Orangetown, New York

Indeed a heart touching gathering of community in honor and in gratitude for 

OUR VETERANS, Tappan, New York

As Poet Laureate, Orangetown, New York, I delivered these words ... ever with respect, ever with love, ever in praise... They shall be framed and are to be hung in the Community Room, of HOMES FOR HEROES, Tappan, New York. In commemoration of, "ORANGETOWN HOLIDAY FOR HEROES," Celebration and Brunch.

Veterans Day 2017

Saturday, November 11

Veterans Day 2017 in United States of America

And this in Tribute to a Veteran that has served countless other veterans over an exemplary record of service for the last 30 years... 

Vietnam Veterans of America

Chapter 333 Rockland County 

New York

30th Anniversary 

In Honor of Jerry Donnellan 

"Rockland Veterans Agency Director, Jerry Donnellan, has announced his retirement — well, to the extent that Jerry can retire. We fully expect Donnellan to continue advocating for his fellow veterans, and welcome his rabblerousing on their behalf.

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.”

The Journal News. http://www.lohud.com/…/06/07/veterans-thank-jerry/377080001/

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

click for larger view

A YELLOW RIBBON

A Yellow Ribbon

The loss of a loved one ever so real

The pain, the lament, tears beyond conceal

The vision of rightful freedom held within heart

From which Veterans with valor do not depart

Many a war has time come to see

Ever held be the right to live free

This day in homage to lives now in heaven’s embrace

Each life, each memory within our hearts we place

And to those who serve may the vision be ever justly clear

YOU IN HONOR, for the freedoms you defend and hold dear 

Be it of gratitude and praise, a yellow ribbon upon a tree

For all that is given by so many that we may yet live free.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Poet Laureate

Orangetown, New York

The Yellow Ribbon across time: https://www.loc.gov/folklife/ribbons/ribbons.html

In Gratitude and in Tribute... Veterans Day, 2014, Walkway of Heroes...

In Gratitude and in Tribute... Veterans Day, 2014

 these words presented at the 

Veterans Day Ceremony

Walkway of Heroes

Tappan, New York

On Memorial Day of this year, I had the honor of presenting a tribute to our Veterans. In preparation, I asked that words be shared that held the messages of gratitude for each life given, in the name of service to freedom. So too, I asked of Veterans whose valor and dedication yet resounds.

Heartfelt be these words and remembrances. Heartfelt be the sacrifices, the loss, the vision, the victory, the freedoms to prevail.

So this be known...

And they who for country and freedom in battle perish
We to weep and in loving memory with gratitude cherish
For each life that was lives in God's embrace sublime
Ever blessed be their souls in soaring grace divine

The pulsing, sounding, recording within our heart
From which memory and sentiment have their start
Of dearly loved ones who once filled our day
Their souls taken to another path, to the eternal way

We share gestures and words that lovingly hold to grace
And within our BEING it is tenderness we place
All in reflection of sacrifice and noble deed
The cry of Freedom, ever our living creed

The gifts of LIFE with vision blessed and bold
This the giving within each Veteran's story told
Loyalty, dedication, ascending care be they known
This in valor by our sons and daughters shown

Courage to hold to freedom's call and light
In perseverance the challenge be it day or night
Fortitude, strength, imbued with heart's noble call
Sacrifices of body, limb, in this a growing toll

And when returned to home's welcomed shore and land
Let us in caring response put support in command
It is resolve that humanity calls to be known
Within the grasps of faith, love and TRUTH be shown

The dream yet dreamed shall unfold
And PEACE to be the story told
This gift of knowing to mark the rising way
And we in tribute give honor this Veterans Day.

Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

Photo Credit: Joe Gartner, JG Photography, 2014.