NORTH SALEM, N.Y. - North Salem marked Veterans Day by honoring generations of Americans who have served in the military, from the local militiamen who fought in the Revolutionary War to those who continue to defend the country today.
Veterans, their families, local officials and members of the Girl Scouts gathered beside Town Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 11, for the annual ceremony, which featured remarks from Deputy Supervisor Peter Kamenstein and Supervisor Warren Lucas.
Lucas reflected on the sacrifices made by American service members over the past two and a half centuries, placing particular emphasis on North Salem's role in the nation's fight for independence.
"Today on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we stop our busy lives, step back from our routines, and turn our eyes and our hearts toward a very special group of Americans, and that's our veterans," Lucas said.
"This year, however, our gratitude carries even more significant weight," he continued. "Our nation marks 250 years since its founding, and we are not just celebrating the passage of time, we're celebrating the price of it."
Lucas noted that the freedoms Americans enjoy today were secured through the sacrifices of ordinary citizens who answered the call to serve.
"It survived because ordinary men and women raised their right hands, swore an oath to our Constitution, and stood between this country and a dangerous world," he said.
Kamenstein opened the ceremony by welcoming veterans, their families and other attendees, recalling the origins of Veterans Day.
He explained that the holiday traces its roots to Nov. 11, 1918, when an armistice took effect at 11 a.m., ending the fighting in World War I. Originally observed as Armistice Day, the occasion eventually became Veterans Day to honor all Americans who have served in the armed forces.
Kamenstein emphasized that veterans are not just figures in history books, but familiar faces throughout the community.
"Here in North Salem, we see our veterans at the grocery store, on the sidelines, at our kids' games, and at gatherings like this one," he said. "We know them as friends, neighbors, and family."
He also acknowledged the sacrifices made by military families, thanking them for enduring long separations and the challenges associated with military life.
Lucas then turned his attention to North Salem's Revolutionary War history, describing how the community, then known as Upper Salem, was caught between British and Patriot forces.
During the 1770s, the area was part of what became known as the "neutral ground," a contested region between British-controlled New York City and territory held by American forces.
"It was anything but neutral," Lucas said, describing a period marked by raids, theft and violence that divided neighbors and even families.
He noted that Town Hall itself has roots in that turbulent era. The building was originally constructed beginning in 1760 as a manor house for Stephen DeLancey, a British loyalist who fled in 1776. The property later became the North Salem Academy before eventually serving as Town Hall.
Despite the divisions within the community, Lucas said more than 90 men from Upper Salem and the surrounding area took up arms for the Patriot cause. At least 46 of those Revolutionary War veterans are buried in North Salem.
"They are not distant names in a textbook," Lucas said. "They are our ancestors, our predecessors, our neighbors."
He highlighted the contributions of local militia members during the British raid on Danbury in April 1777.
After British troops under Gen. William Tryon destroyed a Continental Army supply depot in Danbury, local militia companies marched through the night to confront the retreating forces.
Among those who responded were members of the 3rd Westchester militia, led by Capt. Jesse Truesdel and North Salem's Nathaniel Delavan.
Lucas described how the militiamen worked to slow the British retreat, including destroying a bridge over Wolf Pond and engaging the enemy as the fighting moved toward Ridgefield.
He also recounted the story of Thaddeus Crane, a local farmer who was seriously wounded during the fighting but survived and later served as North Salem's town supervisor.
Another local family, the Delavans, contributed numerous soldiers to the Revolutionary War effort. Lucas described Timothy Delavan and his nine sons, who served in the conflict, including Daniel Delavan, who earned recognition for his military service and later held positions in local government.
The supervisor said those early citizen-soldiers established a tradition of service that continues through successive generations of Americans.
"The fierce, unexpected resistance of these local farmers, laborers, and fathers galvanized support for the American cause across our entire region," Lucas said.
He connected their sacrifices to those of veterans who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and other conflicts, noting that military service often comes at a tremendous personal cost.
"They missed birthdays, anniversaries, first steps, and quiet evenings at home so that we could gather safely in our neighborhoods, speak our minds, vote our conscience, and raise our children in peace," Lucas said.
He also praised veterans for the contributions they make after returning to civilian life, whether through public service, local businesses, coaching youth sports or volunteering in their communities.
"When their active duty ended, their service did not just stop," Lucas said.
As the ceremony concluded, Lucas urged residents to remember the sacrifices that have sustained the nation throughout its history.
"Freedom is never free," he said. "It is never more than one generation away from needing somebody willing to stand guard."
He closed by thanking veterans in attendance, as well as those buried in North Salem's cemeteries whose service helped establish the country.
"Thank you for keeping the chain unbroken," Lucas said. "May we live lives worthy of your immense sacrifice."
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