Sanders Conducts Vet Valentine Visit; Gift Giveaway to Vets at St. Albans VA

In celebration of Valentine's Day, Marine Corps veteran and New York State Senator James Sanders Jr. (D-Rochdale Village, Far Rockaway) distributed 250 free gift bags filled with clothing and other items to residents at the New York State Veterans Home at St. Albans on February 13, 2017.

"Valentine's Day is a celebration of love and affection, a golden opportunity to let our veterans know that we care about them and that they are not forgotten," Sanders said. “It is always a great joy for me to thank them for their service to our country and to offer them a small token of our appreciation.”

Sanders gave away scarves, back backs, pens, first aid kits, key chains, chip/refrigerator clips and other items which were donated by Flowers of Hope, Queens Public Library, St. John's Episcopal Hospital and Edwin Cabral of State Farm. “I would like to extend a special thank you to all of our co-sponsors, without whom this event would not have been possible,” Sanders said. “Their generosity and commitment to helping this community will not soon be forgotten. I would also like to thank the New York State Veterans Home at St. Albans for their hospitality and allowing us to use their space to interact with their residents.”

Representatives from Flowers of Hope, led by founder Gina Vasquez, donated scarves, which they distributed to the veterans. They also sang songs with the servicemembers. The patients at the New York State Veterans Home at St. Albans have served in either World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, or Gulf War and have suffered a service-related injury that requires skilled nursing care. Others are dependents of military personnel, who receive medical or rehabilitative care. Residents range in age from 45 to 100 years old, and their stay can last anywhere from 6-8 weeks to the rest of their lives. Sanders' father, James Sanders Sr. who was also a veteran, lived at the home until his passing last year. A moment of silence was held in his memory.