Colonel Joseph Davidson, the U.S. Army Garrison commander at Fort Hamilton, hosted a Veterans Day program inside the post theater. The event was emceed by Specialist First Class Kenneth Bishop with the National Anthem sung by Christina Burgos and the Invocation delivered by Post Chaplain Major Tracy Hudgins.
Welcoming remarks were presented by Colonel Davidson. The keynote speaker was Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Balint, the new commander of the New York City Recruiting Battalion headquartered at Fort Hamilton. Among the elected officials present were Congressmember Dan Donovan, State Senator Marty Golden, Assemblymember Peter Abbate, City Councilmember Vincent Gentile and New York State Supreme Court Justice John Ingram. Lorraine Brown sang a rousing rendition of “America the Beautiful.” The program concluded with a medley of the Armed Forces songs. Veterans from each force were asked to stand during their service song.
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This paper‘s Senior Health and Financial Expo held at the Dyker Beach Golf Course was a big success. Among the non-profit groups handing out free giveaways were the two AARP local chapters, the Bay Ridge Chapter which is led by Peter Killen, and the Ovington Chapter by Vincent Bocchino and Chris Merlino. Bocchino is also the current president of the Bay Ridge Community Council and Killen is a past BRCC President, and current executive director of the Brooklyn Consumer Federation.
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Author and Brooklyn historian Robert Furman will be the next guest speaker at the Bay Ridge Historical Society, on Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., at the Shore Hill Neighborhood Center, on 91st Street between Colonial Road and Shore Road. The title of his new book, is Brooklyn Heights. His appearance also coincides with the 50th anniversary of Brooklyn Heights being designated a historic district by the New York City Landmarks Commission. The meeting is free and open to the public.
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State Senator Golden who is a senior member of the New York State Senate Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee, held his annual Veterans Day Breakfast. The well-attended event included veterans from all the Armed Services and war eras plus the FDNY and NYPD. This year‘s program also included Gold Star Families and two canine veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Golden presented New York State military Service medals posthumously to the lost sons of the Gold Star families. Colonel Davidson took part in the presentations.
The senator also called for a moment of silence in memory of WW II Navy veterans Howie Dunn and Irwin Meyer.
Golden also surprised the Marine Corps veterans present when he had his staff roll out a birthday cake saluting the 240th Birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. The cake-cutting ceremony was done with Marine Corps veteran and current Catholic War Veterans County
Commander Joseph Tiralongo wielding his ceremonial sword. Army Sergeant Louis Licalzi (Ret.) help conclude the program by singing, “God Bless the USA.”
On the Avenue: Bay Ridge’s parade season in full swing 
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