New County Center Clock Honors Veterans
The week in which President Barack Obama declared America’s involvement in the Iraq war to be over was an appropriate time to make a dedication to Westchester’s veterans, according to County Executive Rob Astorino.
A new clock across from the Westchester County Center in White Plains was dedicated on Dec. 16
The original clock, which was erected in 1999 to honor the coming new century, was destroyed when it was hit by a car in July 2008. The new clock, which cost $30,000, was created and donated by Wilson & Son Jewelers. The site of the new clock, which is across the street from the County Center, was prepared with the assistance of the county’s parks and public works departments.
“It really is a testament to the fact that all good things do take some time and they are worth waiting for,” Astorino said, thanking brothers Matthew and Michael Wilson–owners of Wilson & Son Jewelers–and their parents, Ira and Lynn.
“It is also an idea of the Wilsons to dedicate this clock to our veterans from Westchester County,” Astorino said. “It’s interesting because this clock here is going to be right next to these trees. These tree are 90-years-old. They were planted in honor of World War I veterans who helped liberate France. So it’s a fitting dedication and a fitting ceremony and a location for this clock. And it’s also very appropriate, obviously, with our troops beginning to come home now from Iraq and Afghanistan.”
The inscription on the plaque on the bottom of the clock reads, “We dedicate this clock to the brave veterans of Westchester County. This clock shall serve as a permanent reminder not only of the time, but of the important people in our lives who have sacrificed so much to preserve our safety, freedom and way of life.”
Matt Wilson said, “It is with great pride that we donate this clock to Westchester County. We decided to honor the veterans of the past, the present and the future in Westchester County who have sacrificed so much to provide us with the freedoms, liberties and way of life we enjoy and quite often take for granted. As we go about our daily lives we should never forget about those who did so much “
“Our hope is that this clock will serve as a permanent reminder that our freedom is not free,” Matt Wilson said.
Assemblyman Robert Castelli (R-C/Goldens Bridge) said, “On behalf of all of us on the Veterans Affairs Committee, I’m the ranking member in the New York State Assembly, our governor and members of the Senate and the Assembly, I want to thank you, the Wilson family, for having been incredibly generous in making this happen. On behalf of all of our veterans and it is prophetic that they are coming home from Iraq as of yesterday, and we want to welcome them all home. We wish them all the best. We thank them for their service.”
