Senator Klein Serves 9th Annual Veterans’ Breakfast
By Robert WirsingPosted on
Photo by Laura Stone|Photo by Laura Stone|Photo by Laura Stone|Photo by Laura Stone|Photo by Laura Stone|Photo by Laura Stone|Photo by Laura Stone|Photo by Laura Stone
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Senator Jeff Klein, Congressman Joseph Crowley, Assembly members Michael Benedetto and Mark Gjonaj and Councilman James Vacca saluted our nation’s veterans at the ninth annual Veterans’ Breakfast on Sunday, November 13 at the Villa Barone Manor.
Held prior to the day’s 32nd annual Bronx Veterans Day Parade in Throggs Neck, the event honored grand marshal retired U.S. Marine Corp. lieutenant colonel Ron Watson; Lifetime Service Award honoree 99-year-old Nicholas Calabrese and honorary grand marshals Marine Corp. veteran Joseph Byrne, Army veterans Irma Gallagher, William Hyland, Frank Morales and Marshall Siciliano for their military service.
Klein also announced $15,000 in funding for Bronx Veteran Mentors which helps veterans seek treatment for mental health and/or drug related issues as an alternative to incarceration.
Patrick Devine (l), Theodore Korony American Legion Post 253 judge advocate, celebrated with grand marshal retired U.S. Marine Corp. veteran lieutenant colonel Ron Watson.
Photo by Laura Stone
(l-r) Senator Klein; Xavier Messina; Thomas Messina, representing Congressman Joseph Crowley and Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj.
Photo by Laura Stone
District Attorney Darcel Clark (c) with members of the Theodore Korony American Legion Post 253 and Bronx County commander Tony Salimbene (back, 3rd from l).
Photo by Laura Stone
(l-r) Patrick Devine, Klein and Dwayne Gathers, who received a check for $15,000 from the senator for the Bronx Veterans Mentors group.
Photo by Laura Stone
Klein (r) presented a proclamation to this year’s grand marshal retired U.S. Marine Corp. veteran lieutenant colonel Ronald Watson for his service to our nation.
Photo by Laura Stone
Grand marshal lieutenant colonel Ron Watson (c) shared a Marine tradition, the ‘Challenge Coin’ with (l-r) District Attorney Clark, Assemblyman Gjonaj, Senator Klein and Thomas Messina.
Photo by Laura Stone
Senator Klein, Assemblyman Gjonaj and Thomas Messina with honorees grand marshal retired U.S. Marine Corp. veteran Ron Watson, Lifetime Achievement WWII veteran Nicholas Calabrese and those accepting on behalf of honorary grand marshals Joseph Byrne, Irma Gallagher, Franklin Morales, Jr. and William Hyland.
