Queens Honors Veterans Ahead of Veterans Day
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards hosted a celebration recognizing five local veterans ahead of the holiday.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Military
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Queens Borough President Donovan Richards hosted a celebration honoring veterans ahead of Veterans Day, where five Queens veterans were presented citations. Live entertainment and refreshments were offered to attendees.
Why it matters
The event recognized the sacrifices of those who served in the U.S. military, a population of roughly 36,000 veterans in Queens, nearly one in three in New York City. It also highlights city-level investment in veteran services.
The City Council allocated $3.37 million for veteran services this year, including $1.27 million for community development, $600,000 for legal services, $420,000 for mental health care, $340,000 for homeless prevention, and $200,000 for job placement. The figures reflect budget allocations, not reported program outcomes.
The players
Donovan Richards
Queens Borough President who hosted the celebration honoring veterans.
Selvena Brooks-Powers
New York City Council Member who attended the event.
Lynn Schulman
New York City Council Member who attended the event.
Cassie Donegan
Miss America 2026 who sang "God Bless America" at the event.
The details
Five Queens veterans were presented citations at the ceremony: Michael Arcati (U.S. Navy), Tammy Rose Scott (U.S. Army), David Crum (U.S. Coast Guard), Jackie L. Wilson (U.S. Army), and Bernadette Vermersch (U.S. Air Force). Miss America 2026 Cassie Donegan sang "God Bless America," and Council Members Selvena Brooks-Powers and Lynn Schulman attended, with support from Maspeth Federal Savings Bank and the Queens County Women's Bar Association.
Timeline
November 9, 2026: Veterans Day celebration hosted by Borough President Richards ahead of the holiday.
Military Context
The $3.37 million the New York City Council allocated for veteran services this year sits within the city's ongoing budget process for veterans' programs. The celebration illustrates how that funding is paired with public recognition of veterans in Queens.
Queens veterans can access city-funded services in legal aid, mental health care, homeless prevention, and job placement, all supported by the Council's current allocation. The celebration itself was open to attendees and included live entertainment and refreshments.
The takeaway
Veterans in Queens are part of a population of roughly 36,000, and city-funded services for legal aid, mental health, and job placement are available to them this year. Residents seeking support can use these programs as a starting point.
Further reading
Explore more veteran and service-member coverage in the Military section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by QNS.
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