Rain doesn’t dampen Back the Blue Prayer Walk 

A steady, drenching rain prevented participants from taking their traditional walk, but it didn’t stop Back the Blue from holding its seventh annual Prayer Walk at Camarda Park on Sunday, Sept. 20. 

About 160 people, not including committee members, gathered beneath the park pavilion and tents erected by organizers for the event, which honors law enforcement officers and those killed in the line of duty. 

This year’s Prayer Walk was dedicated to NYPD Officer Stephen Driscoll, a Lake Carnel resident who was killed while responding to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Driscoll, 38, served with the NYPD’s Emergency Service Squad 4 and was among 23 NYPD officers killed that day.  

Driscoll was an honor guard member of the NYPD Emerald Society Pipes and Drums and belonged to the Emerald Society and New York Shields. His name remains quite visible locally. The Stephen P. Driscoll Memorial Pipe Band participates in Putnam County's annual 9/11 remembrance activities and marches in many local firemen's parades. 

Driscoll’s sister, Gail Driscoll, attended the ceremony on behalf of the family and accepted a plaque honoring her brother. 

Marianne Chaluisan of Mahopac, founder of Back the Blue and the Prayer Walk, said the weather did little to diminish the spirit of the gathering. 

“Even though we had rain, we had a good turnout, about 160 people,” she said. “It was so uplifting; the community came together, everyone was hugging one another, everyone was in good spirits. We had a lot of new people show up.” 

Chaluisan said organizers decided against postponing after putting considerable time and resources into the event and arranging for guest speakers. 

“Our officers work through all kinds of weather, so we can too,” she said. “Stephen [Driscoll] went into the burning towers. Imagine if we can’t take a little rain.” 

Keynote speakers were Pastor Andrew Columbia, a retired NYPD officer and pastor at Mount Carmel Bible Church, and state Assemblyman Matt Slater. Carmel Councilman Frank Lombardi served as master of ceremonies, while Carmel Police Chief Anthony Hoffmann also addressed the gathering. 

Retired NYPD officer Tom McClean performed patriotic songs, while John Lorio, owner of Fun Time Amusements, served as deejay, donating his time as he has since the event began seven years ago. 

Back the Blue also presented its first Citizen’s Award to Linda Cefaloni of the Mahopac Italian American Club. 

“Linda has supported us since day one,” Chaluisan said. “She has never missed one of our walks.” 

With the actual walk washed out, attendees instead lingered together beneath the pavilion, where organizers served coffee and desserts. 

“We didn’t walk, so we came together united,” Chaluisan said. “It was like a family.”