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Gold Star Mothers Memorial Garden dedicated

| 01 Oct 2015 | 11:54
    Post 488 Legion Past Commander Marty Currid with Anthony Salatto and Matthew Salatto on the paver walkway which was part of Anthony Salatto's Eagle Scout project.
    Post 488 Legion Past Commander Marty Currid with Anthony Salatto and Matthew Salatto on the paver walkway which was part of Anthony Salatto's Eagle Scout project.
    Provided photos Hudson Valley American Gold Star Mothers Unit 31 members Renate DeAngelis, left, Vivian Allen, Donna Yurista and Lorraine Voelke Griffenkranz with Boy Scout Troop 440 Eagle Scout Anthony Salatto, Troop 440 Scout Matthew Salatto and Monroe Cadette Troop 388 members Gabrielle Schnaars, Meghan Jezik and Allison Ampel during the American Legion Post 488's Gold Star Mothers Memorial Garden dedication on Sept. 27 at the legion.
    Provided photos Hudson Valley American Gold Star Mothers Unit 31 members Renate DeAngelis, left, Vivian Allen, Donna Yurista and Lorraine Voelke Griffenkranz with Boy Scout Troop 440 Eagle Scout Anthony Salatto, Troop 440 Scout Matthew Salatto and Monroe Cadette Troop 388 members Gabrielle Schnaars, Meghan Jezik and Allison Ampel during the American Legion Post 488's Gold Star Mothers Memorial Garden dedication on Sept. 27 at the legion.
    Monroe Cadette Troop 388 plants marigolds donated by Laura Ann Farms.
    Monroe Cadette Troop 388 plants marigolds donated by Laura Ann Farms.

MONROE — American Legion Post 488 in Monroe dedicated its Gold Star Mothers Memorial Garden this past Sunday, the same day as National Gold Star Mother's Day.

The day is observed in the United States on the last Sunday of September each year recognizing and honoring mothers who have lost a son or daughter while serving the U.S. armed forces.

Four members of the Hudson Valley American Gold Star Mothers Unit 31 joined the members of Post 488 and its Ladies Auxiliary, American Gold Star Sisters and scouts at the ceremony.

Sacrifice and pain"The memorial garden is of great importance to the legion because it commemorates the sacrifices of the men and women who died in war and recognizes the ongoing pain of the mothers who lost their children in war," said Post 488 Past Commander Marty Currid.

The Boy Scout contribution to the project was to install paver and concrete walkways along the legion's Monument Row.

It was the Eagle Scout project of Boy Scout Troop 440 member Anthony Salatto of Monroe, a junior at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J., who was assisted by his brother Matthew Salatto, a Don Bosco freshman.

Monroe Girl Scout Cadette Troop 388 members Allison Ampel, Meghan Jezik and Gabrielle Schnaars, Monroe-Woodbury seventh-graders, worked with legion members to prepare the garden and have it ready in time for last Memorial Day.

Laura Ann Farms in Monroe donated the gold marigold flowers for the recent spring and summer seasons.

'I never wanted to be a Gold Star Mother'

The garden is also the new location for the legion's Gold Star Mother's Monument, relocated from a different location on the property.

"I think this is a wonder thing," said Vivian Allen of Chester, a member of Hudson Valley American Gold Star Mothers Unit 31. "It's very patriotic of them. It's nice to see kids who feel that way and who take part in their community. I never wanted to be a Gold Star Mother, but I am proud to be a Gold Star Mother."

Joining Allen at the ceremony were Gold Star Mothers Donna Yurista of Highland, Lorraine Voelke Griffenkranz of Monroe and Renate DeAngelis of Campbell Hall.

- Nancy Kriz