July 3 Declared 'Wounded Warriors Day' in Northport

Mayor George Doll proclaimed July 3 “Wounded Warrior Day” in Northport and called on citizens to to renew thier commitment to improving the quality of life for all our wounded veterans all year long.

“Before there could be independence, there had to be people willing to suffer and die to earn it," Doll said at a ceremony last Monday. "A single day isn’t enough to adequately thank [veterans] for their service, but it is an effective way to remind everyone of freedom’s real, human costs.”

Doll and other village officials are working with Cow Harbor Warriors, a nonprofit organization founded to honor and enable wounded U.S. veterans, to prepare for the inaugural Cow Harbor Warrior Weekend in September. The event is scheduled for September 7-9 and will feature a variety of activities, including:

• Warrior Welcome Parade – Friday, Sept. 7 at 6 p.m., Main Street.

• 4-mile Warrior Run – Saturday, Sept. 8 at 8:30 a.m., . Early registration is $25. Regular registration fee is $35.

• Fishing for Freedom Fishing Tournament- Saturday, Sept. 8 at 6 a.m., . $35 per fisherman.

• CHW Golf Tournament – Saturday, Sept. 8 at 9 a.m., . $95 per golfer, $380 per foursome.

• Adaptive Water Sports– Exclusively reserved for our Wounded Warriors. Saturday, Sept. 8 at 9 a.m.,

• Beach Bum Boot Camp- Exclusively reserved for our Wounded Warriors. Saturday, Sept. 8 at 9 a.m.,

• Northport Sunset Clam Bake – Saturday, Sept. 8 at 6 p.m., . Tickets may be purchased in advance. More details coming soon.

Mayor Doll suggested that one way citizens and companies from in the region might commemorate Wounded Warrior Day is by making plans to sponsor and/or participate in the Cow Harbor Weekend.

“Over 40,000 troops have been physically wounded during the current military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Becky Melvin, PR Manager for the Wounded Warrior Project. “Hundreds of thousands more are estimated to be recovering from invisible wounds of war, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Whether through recreational retreats, combat stress programs or career and education opportunities, these services aim to ease the burdens of the wounded and their families, aid in the recovery process and smooth their transition back into civilian life.”