A fun day with a purpose

Armed forces day to include barbeque, games and a vital outreach to vets

LIBERTY, NY — It won’t be all fun and games at the Armed Forces Day celebration scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Saturay, May 19 at Hanofee Park—there will be vital financial, medical and benefits information provided to veterans as well. But fun will be a big part the event, with a barbeque, rental paddleboats, fishing rodeo contest, play with frisbees and footballs, music and a live broadcast from Thunder 102 radio station. Prizes will be given away all day long.

There is free screening for Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans, along with two years of free medical care and other benefits that many veterans do not know about. The Sullivan County Veterans Service Agency Director, Eric Nystrom, will be on hand as well with brochures and valuable information for veterans. Sullivan County Community College will discuss VA-approved education programs for veterans.

A free membership drive for all veterans organizations and their auxiliaries will also be held. All veterans organizations are welcomed to attend and set up a free table for recruiting.

Local Monticello veterans interested in attending can call VFW LIFE MEMBER and local Monticello man Martin CJ Mongiello at 845/794-0482. Mongiello, a retired U.S. Navy veteran of 21 years, served at NATO to the Joint Chiefs of Staff and holds the President of the United States Presidential Service Badge. He is especially interested in helping young veterans of foreign wars to find help and to discover that they have friends who understand their needs, pains, and unique thoughts.