Archive: Around Town

New York State Route 38, a road that cuts through the heart of the state; from the Pennsylvania border to the shore of Lake Ontario, is now designated as “Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway of Valor”. The effort to get Route 38 renamed began in early 2009 by Lauren and Laurie Dates, of Red Creek, New York.

Lauren, a former Vietnam Veteran paratrooper, and recipient of the Bronze Star, came up with the idea to honor Vietnam Veterans from the state of New York, after watching the long painful death of his brother-in-law who was also a veteran of the Vietnam War, and he wondered just how many people in the community were aware of the sacrifices made by the men and women from this state who went off to war in Vietnam. Since the end of the war in 1975, of the 2.9 million veterans who served in-country in Vietnam, only app. 750 thousand are still alive.

Dates started with the local legislators getting county support, then with the State assembly and senate getting their support and finally in August 2009, Governor Patterson signed the bill into law, designating New York State Route 38 as 'Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway of Valor', becoming the only state highway honoring all Vietnam Veterans in New York State.

In an effort to draw attention to the fact that a state highway had been named honoring Vietnam Veteran, the idea for a ride began in August, 2009 by members of Chapters 377, 480, and 704 of Vietnam Veterans of America, also by Chapter 17 Blue Knights and by members of the Patriot Guard Riders.  The 1st Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway of Valor Tribute Ride took place on October 17, 2009.

Hundreds of riders showed up on this cold, snowy, rainy, wet, miserable day for the ride, and that is why this years ride will take place on July 17, 2010. This '2nd Annual Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway of Valor Tribute Ride', will draw attention to this highway honoring the sacrifices made by the men and women from the State of New York who went off to fight when our Country called, in a place called Vietnam.

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