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Cortlandt Dedicates Verplanck Veterans Memorial Park

CORTLANDT, N.Y. – Cortlandt officials dedicated on Tuesday the riverfront Veterans Memorial Park in Cortlandt before more than 80 people. The park spans about three-quarters of a mile of Hudson River shoreline, along one of the widest parts of the river.  

The park "wasn't meant to honor any one individual," said Cortlandt Council member Frank Farrell, but was, "for every veteran from the beginning of our country to today."

The park cost approximately $40,000 and is located on Riverview Avenue and Broadway in the hamlet of Verplanck. The park occupies the southwestern tip of the hamlet's peninsula, which juts into the Hudson River.

A three-and-a-half by four-foot piece of stone was engraved with the words "Veteran's Memorial Park," and has two small benches nearby. A small plaque nearby, written by Verplanck veteran Arthur Rickey, details the intent of the park.

"This park is dedicated to honor the hundreds of thousands of men and women in our military who valiantly served this nation in peacetime and wartime," wrote Rickey.

Just a few hundred feet away from the newly dedicated Veterans Memorial Park, an aviation themed playground is under construction. The theme is meant to honor the donor of the 26-acre piece of land, James Martin. Martin once operated the Peekskill Seaplane Base and nearby trailer park before gifting the land to the town in lieu of development.  

Members of Verplanck's William J. Boyle American Legion Post 1030 were on hand to unveil the plaque, the monument and place a wreath near the monument's small sitting area in front of the river. Cortlandt Supervisor Linda Puglisi gave special thanks to Rickey, who envisioned the park, petitioned the town and authored a plaque at the park.

"The memorial represents every veteran," said Rickey.

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