The ceremony kicked off at 11 a.m. at Memorial Grove, located at 6036 Broadway, just north of Manhattan College with a color guard and military procession. Later, there was a prayer, the raising of the American flag, a pledge of allegiance to the flag, the singing of the national anthem, remarks by local war veterans, and speeches by various elected officials.

The ceremony also included the formal recognition of the historic passage of a city council resolution, sponsored by Gibson and the council member, designating November as Veteran Appreciation Month in New York City.

Herb Barrett, a veteran and longtime chair of the Annual Veterans Day Ceremony at Memorial Grove, who was behind its renovation as a site dedicated to veterans, was later honored during the ceremony. “Everything here, you know, is, I think, because of you, and all of us are here and safe because of the work you do, and so many veterans like you have done,” Eric Dinowitz said addressing Barrett. “So, I would like to present you with a copy of the resolution which marks this month, November 2023, as the first Veteran Appreciation Month in New York City.”

The councilman also talked about the debt Americans owe veterans. “Last week, I went to the Museum of Jewish Heritage, where there were a few hundred Holocaust survivors gathered together, and I had the real honor to address them.” he said. “I looked out and I just thought how many are here today, and how many of their families are here today because a veteran saved their lives and that is, I think, the story of so many of us here, and it’s a question we can all ask.”

He went on to talk about a prior veterans’ event held at Manhattan College, where he and others talked about what they could do to recognize and uplift veterans. “That is when we started discussing Veteran Appreciation Month,” he said in part. “In New York City, we are doing a lot of work. I no longer chair the veterans’ committee, but the work I do for our veterans still continues. Here, in New York City, we recognize our veterans by uplifting them with things like Veteran Appreciation Month.”

The councilman went on to say that in conjunction with Hendon, the city charter was also revised to include changes to the Veteran Advisory Board, which he said now includes members of families who he said also have had to make sacrifices when veterans go to war. He said there is further proposed legislation that requires city agencies to ask, “Are you a veteran?” on intake forms at senior centers, Parks’ centers, and elsewhere so that NYC Department of Veteran Services can best know who the city’s veterans are, and serve them with other legislation which he said is also being passed to better their mental health, which he said, was so often overlooked.

Dinowitz said that in addition to the legislation passed, the council had also funded programs to serve veteran residents in District 11. He announced that his office is now working with NYC Department of Veterans Services to have a representative from that department present at his Kingsbridge office to enable northwest Bronx veterans obtain veterans’ services directly. He thanked Gibson, Clark, and the assemblyman for their “shared values” in terms of their commitment to supporting veterans.

During his remarks, the assemblyman thanked all the veterans present, singling out Barrett in particular, who he referred to as a “veteran extraordinaire.”  He continued, “I remember.. it has to be like 15 years or more since Herb started his quest to restore Memorial Grove, and it took a lot of work, and he showed what can really be done if you really work for a just cause in our community.”

Dinowitz added, “He got it done and we’ve been here recognizing veterans ever since, so Herb, thank you so much, and thank you to the community board for sponsoring this. Herb was the organizer for many, many years and he passed the torch to Sergio Villaverde and the community board but he’s still here, and I’m glad you’re here, Herb. Thank you.”

In light of the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7 in Southern Israel, and the war that has raged in Gaza since then, which is due to resume in the coming days after a 4-day ceasefire, the assemblyman spoke about Hamas killing 1,400 Jews (since revised to 1,200) on Oct. 7, referring to the organization as “evil.” He added, “Some of them were Americans. They kidnapped 240 people. Some of them are Americans, and so our role in the world, through wartime and through not quite wartime, is so important.”

The assemblyman continued, “You know more U.S. military were sent over to that region of the world because we have to maintain a very strong position in order to keep the peace, and the people who do that are those who serve in the military and those who have served in the military, and I think we should show our appreciation for them all the time, certainly during Veterans Month, but all year round, seriously.”[Pro-Palestinian supporters argue that the U.S. backing of Israel is causing “genocide,” with more than 11,100 Palestinians killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. ]

Dinowitz went on to talk about how veterans were the ones who made, and make, sacrifices for everyday Americans to enjoy certain freedoms. “When people who serve in the military, and we say we got to support our military, when they come home, we still have to support them. We have to always support them.” he said in part. “Thank you Veterans. Thank you, Herb.”

As reported, a veterans’ crisis helpline is available at 988.