Thank you for helping a young sailor remember his home

To the wonderful people of Harriman, Monroe and Chester: I want to tell you how wonderful the people of Harriman, Monroe and Chester are. My son was in the U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command (boot camp) in Great Lakes, Illinois, and he still had a few weeks left until graduation. I had sent many, many letters, pictures of family and friends, cards, newspaper articles - anything I could think of to make his time a little more bearable and less homesick. It was then that I decided I wanted to send him his “town” so I created little signs and brought banners that said “Congratulations Tom” and “Go Navy” and drove through the towns stopping at different locations. I would show his picture, explain about boot camp and everyone was more than willing to hold a sign and allow me to photograph them. And they all said to tell him “thanks” for serving his country. Yes, my heart swelled each and every time I heard those words. So here’s my great big shout out to C.O.R.E Martial Arts Academy, Van Gelder Music, Amendola’s Pizzeria, Quick Chek, Dunkin’ Donuts (Harriman), Harriman Post Office, Harriman Auto, Citgo (Harriman), Millpond Barber Shop, The Castle, Wally’s Ice Cream Parlor (and those four wonderful ladies who didn’t know me or my son), ULTA…. I hope I remembered everyone. You have no idea how appreciative I am for your participation. When I asked my son what he thought about the pictures he paused and told me that boot camp had been, at times, pretty rough so those pictures were really great. I just wanted to put a smile on his face but I know those pictures of all those wonderful people touched his heart. Kathy Neu, a proud mother of a U.S. sailor Harriman Naval Airman Thomas Neu’s graduation posting appears on page 17.