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SENATOR NOZZOLIO AND ASSEMBLYMAN GARY FINCH TO HOST HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE TO BENEFIT AREA FOOD PANTRIES
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Seneca Falls- Continuing his commitment to those who are less fortunate during this holiday season, New York State Senator Michael F. Nozzolio (R-Fayette) and Assemblyman Gary Finch will be holding a holiday food drive to replenish local food pantries.
Senator Nozzolio and Assemblyman Finch are asking the community to drop off non-perishable items to either Senator Nozzolio's Seneca Falls office located at 119 Fall Street in Seneca Falls or his Auburn Office at 69 South Street. The food drive will officially kick-off on Monday, November 28 and conclude on Wednesday, December 21.
"There is no better time than the holiday season to think of others and help our local food pantries replenish much needed supplies," Senator Nozzolio said. "It is a pleasure for me to hold this very beneficial food drive and accept items that will be donated to the Cayuga Seneca Action Agency."
Donations may include non-perishable canned goods, paper products, soap, shampoo, baby food and diapers. All supplies will go to the Cayuga Seneca Community Action Agency which provides services to both Cayuga and Seneca counties.
For more information on the holiday food drive, contact Senator Nozzolio's Seneca Falls office toll free 1-888-568-9816.
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Legislative Column by New York State Senator Michael F. Nozzolio (R-Fayette)
FIGHTING FOR VETERANS CEMETERY AT FORMER
SAMPSON NAVAL AND AIR FORCE BASE
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Throughout our Nation's history, veterans have continually answered the call to defend freedom and democracy in the world and in doing so deserve our utmost thanks and gratitude. This year as Veterans Day approached, I was honored to stand with hundreds of veterans throughout the region to announce that I have taken action to create a world class Veterans Cemetery at the former Sampson Naval and Air Force Base.
The Finger Lakes region is home to a remarkable and unique military history. The Sampson site is a place of hallowed ground, where over three quarters of a million Americans were trained to defend and preserve our freedom. These Americans trained at Sampson to serve America and the country they loved. Just a few miles from Sampson is Waterloo, the nationally recognized birthplace of Memorial Day. The historical significance of Sampson, coupled with our region's military history and home to the birthplace of Memorial Day, makes this area a fitting site for a Veterans Cemetery. Our efforts to create this Veterans Cemetery take on even more significance as our troops overseas continue to put themselves in harm's way to defend America and its liberty.
In an effort to create a Veterans Cemetery I have committed over $500,000 in New York State funding and have drafted legislation that transfers over 450 acres of surplus New York State property back to Seneca County, of which 350 acres will go back on the tax rolls. Approximately 100 acres will be set aside for the establishment of the Veterans Cemetery that will be open to all military veterans throughout the United States.
The site of the proposed cemetery, the Sampson United States Naval and Air Force Base, served as a naval training station during World War II and was later used as an Air Force Basic Training Center. Constructed in 1942, Sampson trained over 400,000 naval recruits during its years of operation. Sailors trained at Sampson fought and participated in every major battle of World War II. During the Korean War the property was converted to the Sampson Air Force Base and over 300,000 airmen received their basic training there from 1950 until 1956. The Sampson Memorial Naval Museum and Air Force Museum are currently located at the site.
Creation of a Veterans Cemetery on the former Sampson Naval and Air Force base has been one of the highest legislative priorities for many veterans' groups throughout New York State. Over the years, New York State Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Korean Vets, New York State Council of Veterans Organizations, the Sampson WW-2 Navy Veterans and Sampson Air Force Veterans have all advocated on behalf of the development of a cemetery at Sampson.
All honorably discharged veterans, their spouses and dependent children will be eligible for burial at the proposed cemetery. The guidelines for the cemetery will be based on federal veteran cemetery standards. This will include opening and closing of the graves, perpetual upkeep and maintenance, government headstone or marker, burial flag and presidential certificate.
In fighting for freedom and peace, our veterans secured America's greatness, a greatness that prevails today because of all our veterans' tremendous collective sacrifice. America's veterans are our true heroes, and this cemetery will be a lasting tribute and place of honor where they will be appropriately remembered.
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