Veterans Day Breakfast

November 11, 2019

"All four of our parents served and we grew up with a sense of the meaning of service, a sense of appreciation for the sacrifice for the heroism. It was in our DNA, it was in our bloodstream and we also came to know how much our veterans bring back from the wars they serve in, the service they do for us," said Mayor Bill de Blasio when sharing his family background along with First Lady’s Chirlane McCray’s at the Veterans Day Breakfast.

An invocation was delivered by Chaplain John Sears. The Color Guard from the U.S. Marine Corps presented Colors after which Tanya Thomas sang the National Anthem. Remarks were delivered First Lady Chirlane McCray, Commissioner James Hendon, and keynote speaker, Colonel Ivan Monclova.

Program Participants:

• Lieutenant colonel James Hendon, Commissioner, Department of Veterans’ Services
• Chaplain John Sears, Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy (Delivering Invocation)
• Tanya Thomas, Engagement & Community Services Coordinator, Department of Veterans’ Services (National Anthem Singer)
• Colonel Ivan Monclova, Commanding Officer, 1st Marine Corps District (Keynote Speaker)
• Sergeant Coley Chestnut (Color Guard Member)
• Sergeant Matthew Perez (Color Guard Member)
• Lance corporal Kaleb McVoy (Color Guard Member)
• Lance corporal James Johnson (Color Guard Member)

Exclusive Industry Sponsor:

• Northwell Health

Sponsors:

• METS Foundation
• HISTORY®

Live Entertainment:

• Benny Havens Band
  • Sergeant Major Scott Cameron Drewes, Percussion
  • Master Sergeant Daniel Robert Pierce, Bass
  • Sergeant First Class  Jongyoon Lee, Guitar
  • Sergeant First Class Geoffrey Robert Vidal, Saxophone
  • Staff Sergeant Emily Renee McAleesejergins, Vocalist

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