Veterans Day 2012: West Nyack Veteran Honored for Community Efforts

As local officials and veterans gather in New City today to honor those who served in the armed forces for Veterans Day 2012, a veteran from West Nyack will be saluted for his efforts to help veterans and the community.

Jerry Donnellan, director of the Rockland County Veterans Service Agency, said that the Rockland County Veterans Coordinating Council each year recognizes a veteran who has served his country and then gone on to serve his community. For 2012, Ed Frank of West Nyack is to be honored.

Frank served in the Navy from 1967 to 1973. He was a crew member on a seven-man River Patrol boat in the Mekong Delta Region of Vietnam and Cambodia during his one-year tour of duty in Vietnam from 1969- 1970.

"Ed’s achievements in our community are outstanding," Donnellan said. "He has worked tirelessly on behalf of veterans and has held numerous positions with the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter #333, including three terms as president. Ed was a co-founder of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, West Nyack Post #126 as well as being a present member of the VFW Post #9215 in Upper Nyack."

In 2005, Frank co-founded Schools To End Poverty (S.T.E.P.) – a 501c3 Foundation that seeks to end poverty through education. With community help, they have built two schools in Vietnam and one in Honduras, with another to come in Jamaica and a third school in Vietnam which is currently awaiting government approval. These programs helped provide education for hundreds of needy children; it also supplied a refurbished ambulance for the Sharon Lane Memorial Clinic in Vietnam, clean drinking water systems for 605 children at a school and an orphanage, and much more.

Frank has also served in board members positions with the Spring Valley Rotary since 2006 and is on the Advisory Board of The Salvation Army of Rockland County.

"Ed works tirelessly on behalf of the people of Rockland County, and he will be an excellent representative as Rockland’s Veteran of the Year," Donnellan said. "Congratulations Eddie, and thank you for all you do!"

The Rockland County Veterans Coordinating Council Veteran of the Year and Veterans Day Services are set to take place at noon today at the Rockland County Courthouse, Main Street and New Hempstead Road, New City.