Wounded vets focus of Warrior Weekend

KINGSTON, N.Y. » The upcoming Warrior Weekend will provide a weekend of rest, relaxation and fun for soldiers who are recovering from wounds sustained while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The 12th annual Warrior Weekend will serve seven to 10 soldiers, along with their families, said Rebecca Dunne, a volunteer with the program. She said the program will not know how many soldiers are attending until they are released from their station at Fort Belvoir in Virginia later this week.

The soldiers will arrive in the area via train bringing them to the Rhinecliff Train Station at 4:55 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6. From there, a Town and Country Limo will take the guests to their rooms at the Marriott Residence Inn in the town of Ulster.

The route from the train station will take the soldiers and their families north on state Route 103 to Route 199 west. Motorcycles parked along Route 199 will join in, and the procession will cross the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge. They will then take the first exit on state Route 32 before continuing to Frank Sottile Boulevard. Local veterans color guards will be waiting to greet the soldiers, along with the Ulster County Ancient Order of Hibernians Pipe and Drum Band and members of the community.

During their stay, the soldiers will be treated to a ride on the Catskill Mountain Railroad and a cruise on the Rip Van Winkle. They will also be taken to Bethel Woods, home of the original Woodstock festival.

The soldiers and their families will remain in the area until Monday morning. Following a breakfast and farewells at the American Legion Post 150 on West O’Reilly Street, the soldiers will be picked up and returned to the train station.

Dunne said the weekend is made possible through donations and fundraising efforts by Ulster County veterans organizations, local police and fire departments, the community and business owners. She said all funds raised benefit Warrior Weekend and the soldiers’ stay in Ulster County. The individuals working for the program are all volunteers, Dunne added.

Donations can be made to The Warrior Weekend Program, P.O. Box 1711, Kingston, N.Y. 12402.