The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors held a July ceremony to honor the life and service of John T. Golden Sr., a World War II United States Navy veteran who later served two decades in the Nassau County Police Department. The event, attended by county officials, state legislators’ representatives and family members, included readings of Golden’s biography, presentations of a county proclamation and commemorative medals, and remarks from elected officials and veteran service leaders.

The ceremony matters because it recognized both Golden’s wartime service — including duty on an LST during the D-Day invasion and participation in Operation Magic Carpet — and his decades of public service at home. County and state officials said the memorial keeps local history and veteran sacrifice visible to the community.

Honorary Chaplain Paul O’Keefe opened the program with an invocation that recalled Golden’s service and urged comfort for those who mourned, saying, “when we lose someone we love, we must learn not to live without them, but to live with the love and the memories that they left behind.” Mary Tamim Farris (ceremony host) and staff from the Saratoga County Veterans Department coordinated the event.

According to the biography read at the ceremony, John T. Golden Sr. was born April 11, 1926, in the Bronx, and enlisted in the Navy on Feb. 5, 1943, at about age 16. He trained in diesel mechanics and demolitions, became submarine-qualified and served aboard a Landing Ship, Tank (LST) during the Normandy invasion. The biography states he later took part in troop repatriation under Operation Magic Carpet and served voyages as far as China. Golden received the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Medal, the European Theater Medal and the World War II Victory Medal and was honorably discharged March 18, 1946.

After military service, the biography presented at the podium says Golden married Geraldine on Sept. 1, 1951, had five children, worked 20 years with the Nassau County Police Department (including narcotics and homicide assignments) until 1972, and later was employed by International Paper Company in Corinth until retiring in 1988. The program lists Golden as a past commander of Hudson-Sacandaga VFW Post 5836 and a member of William J. Varney American Legion Post 862 and the Roosevelt Rod and Gun Club.

Supervisor Phil Barrett, chairman of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, presented the family with a county proclamation, a World War II veterans medal and a challenge coin and said, “on behalf of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, I just wanna say how proud we are of everything that he did and all of you.” Saratoga County Clerk Craig Haynor read a prepared commemoration and passed along a letter from the district attorney.

New York State Assemblyman Matthew Simpson presented an Assembly citation and praised Golden’s generation for its sacrifices. New York State Senator James Tedisco said he brought a state honor described at the ceremony as the New York State Senate’s highest recognition and placed the award on the family; Tedisco also noted he had brought the award with him for immediate presentation. A representative from Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s office, Reid Kronos, presented a flag that had been flown over the U.S. Capitol and a congressional proclamation that will be entered into the Congressional Record.

Supervisor Harry Brennan and Supervisor Ian Murray spoke about Golden’s service to the Navy and community. The ceremony included a performance of “Amazing Grace,” group photographs and a short outdoor flag finalization following indoor remarks.

The family was asked to remain briefly for photos before attendees moved outdoors for the ceremony’s closing. The county noted a display cabinet near the entrance that contains artifacts related to memorialized veterans for public viewing.

No formal votes or policy actions were taken during the ceremony; the program consisted of readings, presentations and tributes.