Maryann Phelps plans on circulating the Veterans Recognition plaque amongst all of the regions. “All the Veterans Committees worked on this campaign. We should all be able to enjoy this citation,” said Phelps.
COMMACK — The Long Island Region Veterans Committee is one of the most diligent committees in our region, participating in numerous activities that celebrate and honor the sacrifices of our nation’s veterans.
One of those events is the annual Veterans Day Ceremony. Every year, committee members and guests gather at the war monuments, near the H. Lee Dennison building, in Hauppauge, to honor the brave men and women who have served in the armed forces.
Committee members work year round to help veterans in need, both on Long Island and across the state.
At the Nassau County Educational Local 865 Annual School District Conference, committee members collect nonperishable food items from event attendees. Those donations are delivered to the Northport VA Hospital and
The Long Island State Veterans Home to distribute to area veterans in need.
The committee is also collecting personal care items for veterans in the homes until Dec. 7. Committee members are slated to drop off the donations on Dec. 10.
In early 2017, the committee will hold an ice cream social at the Long Island State Veterans Home. Residents look forward to the chance to socialize with each other while they enjoy a sweet treat.
As the weather gets warmer, the committee starts holding outdoor events. Their annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Calverton Cemetery honors veterans that gave their lives for our freedom. During this event, committee members and volunteers place an American flag at the grave of soldiers who were CSEA members, or affilitated with our union.
The Veterans Committee also holds a Flag Day ceremony to dispose in a dignified manner American flags that are no longer fit to display. Immediately following that is a car wash, where they raise money to be donated to veterans in need.
Committee members get involved on a statewide level as well.
Led by Statewide Veterans Committee Chair and Long Island Region Veterans Committee Chair Maryann Phelps, CSEA veterans committee members across the state worked together for years to get the Veterans Equality Act passed. The new law gives veterans who were honorably discharged the option to buy back up to three years of military service for pension credit.
“Before the law was passed, veterans who didn’t have their boots on the ground were not able to get the benefit that the new law allows,” said Phelps. “Just because you served on a boat, you were a cook or a woman (women were banned from serving in combat positions until 2013) doesn’t mean you didn’t serve.”
For all their hard work, Phelps accepted a plaque from CSEA Statewide President Danny Donohue at the 2016 Annual Delegates Meeting on behalf of the regions and statewide Veterans Committees for their efforts in getting the Veterans Equality Act passed.
Phelps said it is the members that made the committees determined to see the bill pass.
“Every time the Veterans Committee had an information table, the No. 1 question was: ‘Why can’t I buy back my time?’” Phelps said. “We knew we had to continue to fight for this bill because it was so important to so many people.”
— Wendi Bowie
Veterans Committee members and guests in front of the 9/11 Memorial at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge, where the Veterans Day ceremony was held.
