DUTCHESS COUNTY EXECUTIVE SUE SERINO ANNOUNCES NEW HONOR-A-VETERAN PROGAM

Program to Recognize Deceased Veterans for Their Service; Applications Now Open

Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino is proud to announce the creation of the Dutchess County Honor-A-Veteran Ceremony, a new program dedicated to honoring deceased veterans for their service to our nation and community. Family, friends, and community members are encouraged to nominate a veteran to be recognized through this meaningful ceremony.

The Honor-A-Veteran Ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month, from April to November, at either the Dutchess County Office Building at 22 Market Street in Poughkeepsie or the town, city, or village hall of the municipality where the honored veteran resided.

To be eligible, veterans must meet the following criteria:

• Deceased for at least 30 days;
• Served in the United States Armed Forces with an honorable discharge, listed as missing in action, or died while serving in the military;
• Wartime and peacetime service is eligible, with no specific service dates or length-of-service requirements.

During each ceremony, the individual who submitted the application, or their designee, will receive an American flag that will be flown outside the County Office Building for 30 days in the veteran’s honor. Afterward, the flag will be professionally cleaned and returned to the next of kin.

Applications for the program are available online at dutchessny.gov/HonorAVeteran or in person at the Dutchess County Office of Veterans Affairs, located at 1335 Route 44, Pleasant Valley, NY 12569. Completed applications can be submitted via email to veterans@dutchessny.gov or returned to the Office of Veterans Affairs.

All submitted applications must be accompanied by a copy of the veteran’s military separation papers (DD-214, WD AGO 53-55, NBG-22 or report of casualty), obituary, and death certificate.

For questions or additional information, please contact the Dutchess County Office of Veterans Affairs at 845-486-2060.