Anthony’s Walk: A Walk Never to Forget
President Weinman, Christina Hines (Executive Director of the Hudson River Housing), Congressman Pat Ryan, and Marist ROTC lead the first annual Anthony's Walk
Photo by Rebecca Dowling ('25)
A foggy haze settled over Marist College as a chill creeped down the spines of walkers. What would have been a bright and sunny day was drowned out by days of rain and endless wind. That day was not meant to be carefree or joyful, it is meant to be a day of reflection, remembrance and awareness.
On Oct. 1, Marist College and Hudson River Housing sponsored its first annual Anthony’s Walk to raise awareness for veterans and the challenges they face. The walk brought attention to the issues of mental health and homelessness, calling those in the community to support America’s veterans. Starting inside Steel Plant, this 22-minute walk looped around the Marist College campus, winded through the dark underpass and ended outside Donnelly Hall.
“Now that number 22 - 22 minute walk - is really significant because 22 veterans take their own lives every day in America,” said Associate Professor Tommy Zurhellen, a member of the Marist’s Veterans Affairs Committee and key organizer of the event. “Double the rate of civilians.”
Zurhellen explained that the main goal was to raise awareness for the mental health issues and homelessness that plague the veteran community. Specifically, this walk is meant to honor and remember Anthony Gray, a homeless marine corp veteran that was murdered outside Liberty Station in Poughkeepsie in 2020. According to Zurhellen, Liberty Station is the only veterans’ homeless shelter in Dutchess County. All proceeds earned from the walk will go to the shelter to combat homelessness.
In the open and brightly lit cafe of the Steel Plant, over 200 participants gathered and huddled together to listen to powerful speakers, each with their own connections to the military.
Marist College President Weinman spoke first, expressing the “deep gratitude and respect” he has for those who serve. President Weinman’s father and both his grandfathers served.
Later, the Hudson River Housing Executive Director Christa Hines arrived. Hudson River Housing works diligently to combat homelessness and develop affordable housing opportunities for all people. As she stood at the podium, she reminded participants of the reason they gathered in the cafe today.
“That’s really the reason that we’re here - first and foremost - is to honor his (Anthony Gray’s) memory,” Hines said. “His life was just tragically cut short and we’re so committed to ensuring that that doesn’t ever, ever happen again to any veteran.”
The final speaker was Congressman Pat Ryan of New York’s 19th District. An Army veteran who did two deployments in Iraq, he told the story of a fellow soldier from his unit who tragically took his life after coming home safely from a 12-month deployment. The silence in the room was heavy. The air was thick with pain, loss and grief. How alone this man must have felt.
The importance of being crowded together in that cafe to offer support and awareness for veterans could not be overstated. Congressman Ryan’s story and his idea of community awareness allowed people in the room to feel the full extent of their actions and what it truly meant for them to be walking.
“It is really an all-hands-on-deck moment where we need everybody in the community… to be a community and actually support those that are coming home and trying to reconnect,” said Congressman Ryan as he empowered members of the audience to continue to take a stand.
The overwhelming need for community support was a common theme among the speakers. They spoke about the role Marist and the Poughkeepsie community have and will continue to have in giving back to the veterans who gave so much to protect our country.
Marist College’s eight ROTC Cadets stood tall in their yellow and black uniforms as they led the walk with well-known community members in tow. They marched out of Steel Plant with pride and purpose as the skies began to clear and the sun began to shine through. “In these moments of positive community, we need to remember the weight of those people (veterans),” stated Congressman Ryan as he was met with unanimous agreement and applause.
As participants neared the end of their walk, ROTC Cadets handed out commemorative dog tags. Engraved in the silver metal were the words “Hudson River Housing,” a token to remember this ground-breaking moment. For all walkers, it was a moment they will never forget.