Hall chats with a retired vet

St. Sgt. Peterkin

GOSHEN – Hundreds of people turned out at Goshen Park Saturday to enjoy a barbeque and to thank returning veterans during Orange County’s welcome home picnic for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Walt Boden of the Town of Newburgh, retired US Air Force, was there with his brother-in-law and long time friend, Michael Gamma, Sr. of Newburgh. “They’re thanking us; we’re thanking them,” said Boden of his conversations with the current military personnel.

Aside from the food and music, there were information tables full of literature about Veterans’ Affairs program and other services. The word of the picnic spread where soldiers traveled from Brooklyn and the Bronx to participate with their colleagues and collect veterans’ information for themselves.

St. Sgt. Andrew Peterkin of Kingston, a 23 year veteran of the Army, served for one year in Iraq in 2003. He was at the picnic with fellow soldiers from the Newburgh Army National Guard and had some advice for young people thinking about making the military. “It’s a good career. You don’t know if war is going tocome up, but if it does, embrace it and do your best, keep your head up and you’ll come back.”

A host of politicians attended the event including Congressman John Hall, Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt, Orange County Executive Edward Diana, County Clerk Donna Benson and several county legislators.