Gen. David H. Petraeus addresses a large
audience at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center on Oct. 31.
Gen. David Petraeus returned to the Hudson Valley yesterday after an absence of three-and-a-half years. He was a guest speaker at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center, which was recently converted from an abandoned building to a community resource. Sen. Bill Larkin encouraged the state government to sell the building for a dollar. And philanthropist Bill Kaplan spearheaded the drive to make the old armory a center for sports and learning.
The general received three standing ovations during the morning ceremony. The crowd stood in unison when he entered the large room that also serves as a gymnasium. The spectators were back on their feet when the general was introduced and when he concluded his remarks.
During his speech, the general paid tribute to the veterans in the audience, and to the people who served “outside the wires” in Iraq and Afghanistan. He referred to these people as “America’s new greatest generation.”
Gen. Petraeus also hailed the “repurposing” of the Armory. He cited Mr. Kaplan’s work in recruiting volunteer ESL teachers, starting a computer lab, and purchasing books that were on the NFA approved reading list.
At the end of the address the general received pats on the back from Sen. Larkin and from Alan Seidman – the host for the ceremony and the general’s classmate at Cornwall Central High School.
Seniors from the Cornwall soccer varsities were at the armory to demonstrate the facility’s indoor playing field. The general chatted with them and asked how their season was going. Both teams had lost in the playoffs this week.
After the ceremony was over, the players asked Gen. Petraeus if he would appear in a picture with them. He agreed and after several shots were taken, the general exhorted the players to win next year.
This was his first visit to the area since June 2010 when he arrived on a Friday for a Purple Heart reception, the high school graduation, and his own class’s 40th reunion. He had to cut that visit short to return to the White House before leaving for Afghanistan.
