The City of Rye is looking for any and all veterans missing from its veteran monuments. It is the first effort to update the monuments since 1980.
The Veteran Monuments Committee is collecting all names that are missing – including anyone missing from the monuments that currently stand (WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam), and anyone who has served since Vietnam. Anyone who knows of a veteran whose name is not reflected on the current monuments can contact the City.
“I have family members who have served and so it’s a deeply personal, good endeavor for me to be involved in,” said City Clerk Carolyn D’Andrea, who is overseeing the project. “I’m passionate about moving it forward for the community.”
City Councilmember Julie Souza, Landmarks Advisory Committee member Rex Gedney and Rye American Legion Post 128 Finance Officer and Adjutant Tim Moynihan round out the committee overseeing the project.
Qualified veterans must meet the City’s criteria:
- Serving or have served and been honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard. A DD214 form for veteran or current ID card for current service member will be required as proof of service to be added to the monument; and
- Must satisfy one of the following criteria:
- Have been born in Rye, NY (birth certificate including parents address)
- Have joined one of the U.S. military branches while residing in Rye, NY (DD214)
- Have been buried in, or have ashes spread in Rye, NY (burial / cemetery certificate)
- Have resided in Rye for at least 10 years (City Tax Roll or other means)
Further directions and the application are on the City’s site. The City of Rye is expecting to provide funding for the project. The City is also accepting private donations (checks can be made out to the City of Rye. In the memo area note “veterans honor wall”. Send checks to Rye City Hall, 1051 Boston Post Rd, Rye, NY 10580, attention: comptroller’s office).
