The Veterans’ Memorials of Putnam County

Memorial Day is when we as a nation recognize the supreme sacrifice others have made on our behalf. As citizens of this great nation, we owe it those who gave up so much.

I think the most sincere way to give thanks is through silent, personal, introspective appreciation for what Memorial Day means. Putting ourselves in the proper setting can evoke thoughts and emotions that stir our gratitude and remembrance. To that purpose, Putnam County has a number of Veterans monuments and memorials that warrant a visit. Here’s a sampling of what Putnam has:

• Brewster Veterans Park (formerly Electrazone Field) Soldiers Monument - On Railroad Avenue in downtown Brewster.

• Brewster VFW Monument – In front of the Brewster VFW Post 672 on Peaceable Hill Road.

• The Brewster/Southeast Honor Roll - Located in front of the library in downtown Brewster, lists the names of residents who served in times of conflict.

Photos by Steven Mattson • Blue Star Memorials – These honor the men and woman who served in our Armed Forces. There is one outside the Brewster train station, and there is another on Route 6 in Mahopac near the library.

• Carmel VFW Monument – On Gleneida Avenue, includes monuments from the American Legion and the Chamber of Commerce.

• Cold Spring Veterans Monument – At the corner of Main St and Chestnut Street (Route 9D).

• Cold Spring Waterfront Park – On the waterfront in Cold Spring at the end of Main Street, a Parrott Cannon is on display, dedicated to the men and women who served our nation.

• Native American Veterans Monument - In honor of all Native American Veterans, at the entrance to the upper portion of Putnam County Veterans

Park on Gipsy Trail Road.

• Iwo Jima Memorial in Rose Hill Cemetery – In Putnam Valley, near the intersection of Peekskill Hollow Road and Mill Street.

• Kent Roadside Monument – On a curve on Farmers Mills Road, a small plaque on a rock outcropping. If you are driving west on Farmers Mills, the plaque is on the left.

• Lake Carmel/Kent Veterans Monument – On Terry Hill Road along the shores of Lake Carmel.

• Mahopac’s Veterans Circle Monument – A little behind the Mahopac Library on East Lake Boulevard.

• Patterson Veterans Memorial Park – On Maple Avenue, the park is dedicated to Veterans, and there is a small monument in the park.

• Patterson War Memorial – On the triangle at the intersection of Route 311 and Maple Ave.

• Putnam County Veterans Park – On Gipsy Trail Road, the lower portion of the park has a number of monuments, a Veterans Museum, as well as a real tank and helicopter.

• Putnam Lake War Memorial – At the center of the intersection of Haviland Drive and Fairfield Drive.

• Raymond Hill Cemetery Veterans Monument – Across from the Shop Rite plaza on Route 52, near the entrance to the cemetery.

If you know of any additional monuments or memorials, email me at stvnmattson@gmail.com so I can be sure to include them next year.

—Steven Mattson has been a resident of Brewster for over 10 years. He is on the board of the Putnam County Land Trust, and is currently writing a book about family-oriented things to do in and around Putnam County. He can be reached at stvnmattson@gmail.com.