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Mid-Westchester Elks First Responders Appreciation Awards to Laureen Smith-Arena, Julie Gallagher and Robert Boddie

June 15, 2021 by Grace Bennett

June 14, 2021, Armonk, NY— Following a traditional Flag Day Service, members of the Mid-Westchester Elks, Lodge #535, honored three first responders commending their courage, perseverance and dedicated service over this most challenging last year.

Honored by the Mid-Westchester Elks were Laureen Smith-Arena, an occupational therapist at Northern Westchester Hospital; Julie Gallagher, an Armonk Fire Department volunteer firefighter, EMT and Byram Hills High School Nurse; and Robbie Boddies, a firefighter with the West Point Fire Department and a paramedic. Certificates of appreciation were also first presented to each of the recipients on behalf of Westchester Board of Legislators Margaret Cuzio and state Senator Shelley Mayer. Attending too was Barbara W. DiGiacinto, town council member of North Castle. Following a variety of laudatory remarks on their behalf, each of the honorees shared their gratitude and/or described their respective experiences.

The ceremony, which also brought together many long time friends and neighbors after a ‘skipped year’ during COVID, took on special meaning this year as attendees gathered for an evening to recall milestones in the fascinating history of the U.S. flag, enjoy cherished traditions, and to share gratitude again to community leaders honored inside Armonk American Legion Hall on Bedford Avenue.

Following a rousing march into the hall and a variety of traditional songs played by the Westchester County Firefighters Emerald Society Pipe Band, a moment of silence honored departed Elks members and first responders killed in the line of duty due to COVID. Amazing Grace was presented by the Westchester County Emerald Society. A delicious dinner, prepared by long time Elks member and volunteer chef Tony Ciccia, who also cooks for the local senior center, was enjoyed by all. 

The Mid-Westchester Elks, a 153-year old charitable organization, is actively seeking new members to join its ranks; Lodge #535 has over 100 members actively supporting charitable activities, including Scouting generally,  and especially at Cerebral Palsy of Westchester (CPW), where members sponsor and support a Pack of boys and girls. The members are also active in supporting U.S. military veterans, the elderly, the poor, people with disabilities, schools, scholarship programs, and a variety of not for profit community organizations.

In 2018, the Elks launched a First Responders Appreciation Awards Dinner and honored police officers. Five area police chiefs each proposed an officer in their command particularly worthy of recognition at that time. In 2019, four firefighters from Armonk, Port Chester, and White Plains were honored. Each year, a short ceremony is performed in observance of Flag Day. In 2020, the event was canceled due to the pandemic. The mid-Westchester Elks Lodge # 535 has resumed meeting at the American Legion Post 1097 at 35 Bedford Rd. in Armonk on the second and fourth Wednesday evening of each month. For more information about the Elks, including joining, please visit elks.org, or contact Lodge Secretary Raymond Sculky at raysculky@optonline.net.

A Call to Order and “Presentation of the Colors”
Gathered for the mid-Westchester Elks 2021 First Responder Award Recipients Presentations: Armonk Assistant Fire Chief Brian Fenster; Armonk Fire Chief Philippe Goulet; Elks Chairman Jim Comstock; Laureen Smith-Arena, Northern Westchester Hospital; Robert Boddie,, West Point Fire Department; Julie Gallagher, Armonk Fire Department; EMT, Byram Hills High School Nurse; Elks exalted ruler Jay Singer, and Elks member Arthur Adelman. Standing behind Laureen and Robert is the Elks’ Anthony Gilberti, who led the Flag service.
During a Flag Service ceremony: The gradual evolving of the U.S. Flag, the tears and triumphs accompanying the history of the flag, are explained each year by several Elks members, including pictured here, Jay Singer.
Westchester County Firefighters Emerald Society Pipe Band
Honoree Julie Gallagher with, from left, Jim Comstock and Chief Philippe Goulet, and on right, Jay Singer
(L-R), Jim Comstock, Laura Toohig, PT, Inpatient Rehabilitation Services Manager, Northern Westchester Hospital, Honoree Laureen Smith-Arena, occupational therapist, Northern Westchester Hospital, and Jay Singer.
(L-R): Jim Comstock, Honoree Robert Boddie and Jay Singer

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: Armonk Fire Department, Awards ceremony, Byram HIlls Nurse, Elks Club, First Responders, Mid-Westchester Elks, Northern Westchester Hospital, West Point Fire Department

About Grace Bennett

Grace Bennett, founder, publisher, and editor of Inside Press Magazines, est. 2003, is an advisory board member of the Westchester County based Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center.

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