A host of veterans, government and community leaders, musicians and special guests will be on hand when the Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery is officially dedicated this Saturday, July 30th beginning at 11:00 a.m.

The Keynote Speaker at the ceremony will be Rear Admiral Richard West, USN (Ret.), a distinguished and accomplished naval veteran whose 38-year military career has encompassed a wide range of operational experience, high-level assignments, and leadership positions. Admiral West has deep roots to the Sampson Naval Base and the Finger Lakes Region. He was born while his father, World War II Navy veteran Dana L. West was serving as a Recruit Company Commander at the former Sampson Naval Base, where the cemetery is now located.

The dedication will be presided over by Commander Tom Watt, USN (Ret.), who will serve as Master of Ceremonies. In addition to his 20 years of service to our Nation including a year of duty in the Arabian Gulf, Mr. Watt is the Supervisor of Sampson State Park.
As the former Naval and Air Force base where over a million sailors and airmen were trained in preparation for battle, Sampson is unique and hallowed ground. Constructed in 1942, the base is named after Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, who was born in Wayne County and was a hero of the Battle of Santiago in the Spanish American War. Overlooking the eastern shore of Seneca Lake, the cemetery will be a final resting place for veterans and their eligible dependents. U.S. Congressman Richard Hanna, New York State Senator Michael Nozzolio, Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb and Assemblyman Gary Finch will join with area veterans, leaders of local, statewide and national veterans organizations, current and past members of the military, community leaders, members of the Seneca County Industrial Development Agency/Economic Development Corporation and members of the Seneca County and Wayne County Boards of Supervisors to dedicate the Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Please join us on Saturday, July 30th for the official dedication ceremony for the Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Details of the event follow: Date: Saturday, July 30th Time: 11:00 a.m. Place: Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery 6632 New York State Route 96A Romulus, NY 14541