Meet Terry Boone, founding member and director of The Saratoga Ladies, an all-volunteer group of women dedicated to honor our fallen Veterans and comfort their families at the Gerald H. B. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery.
Having resided in New Hampshire for 42 years, Terry moved back to New York in 2021 to reunite with her extensive family. She raised four children and is blessed with 15 grandchildren. She enjoyed a career in public service, retail and commercial positions, volunteer service, and extensive support to family, friends, and the needy.
Several years ago, Terry decided to attend a “Welcome Home to our Soldiers” ceremony at Pease Air National Guard Base, NH greeting returning military members from their combat tours in Afghanistan. She instantly sensed a strong feeling of pride and desire to honor our military and their families for their personal sacrifices and patriotism. Her regular attendance at these welcome home events resurrected an appreciation of her extensive family military heritage, incorporating great uncles, four aunts and uncles, her Dad, four siblings, husband, and several nephews having served or currently serving.
Charlie Boone, Jr, Terry’s oldest brother and a US Navy Veteran, passed away in October 2017 and was laid to rest at the Saratoga National Cemetery. He received Military Funeral Honors in front of an overflow number of mourners. While visiting her brother during visits to upstate New York, she noticed funeral parties driving through the Cemetery to perform interment services. On occasion, she noticed only a few or no vehicles accompanied the hearse or funeral vehicle. Reflecting on her brother’s ceremony, she felt an emptiness in knowing some Veterans have no family or community to offer a final and loving tribute.
Her brother Don, a member of the Saratoga National Cemetery Honor Guard Association, winters in Viera, FL. While visiting the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims, FL each year, he noticed distinguished, formally-dressed women presenting a card to the deceased Veteran’s family following Military Funeral Honors. He inquired about the women and their role in honoring the deceased Veteran and became acquainted with The Cape Canaveral Ladies.
Don informed the Saratoga National Cemetery Director, Scott Lamb of his observations and interest in creating a similar program. With Scott’s endorsement, Don presented the idea of creating a similar program to Terry in fall of 2022, and without hesitation, she immediately began her quest in creating a similar organization at the beautiful Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery. She is now poised, in concert with Scott Lamb, Director of Saratoga National Cemetery, to build an organization of dedicated women volunteers offering a final tribute to our fallen Veterans and comfort to their families.