A Pearl River veteran yesterday became the first to be honored with the Rockland County Veteran Pride Award, which recognizes distinguished LGBTQ veterans. Damaris Trinidad joined the Navy in 1986. She was Company Commander of her boot camp, attended A-School in Pensacola to become a Cryptologic Technician, and served at Guantanamo Bay. At the award presentation ceremony yesterday, Trinidad said being forced to keep who she was a secret made a hard job even tougher…
Rockland Veteran Service Agency Director Susan Branam says over the years, she’s heard many similar stories from many LGBTQ veterans…
Trinidad has become a mentor for the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program, where she helps other veterans through outreach and counseling. Rockland County Executive Ed Day called Trinidad a role model who makes us proud.