Matt Castelli

Kenny wishes you all a patriotic, safe, and very happy 4th of July!

#250

1776 was not a year of independence won, but of perseverance through failure.

Let us be worthy of that perseverance for the next 250.

https://mattcastelli.substack.com/p/250

Last night Laura and I were honored to participate in a celebration at the Statue of Liberty hosted by the French Consulate in New York. The event included a special illumination of Lady Liberty and flyover by the French Air Force to celebrate America’s anniversary and mark 250 years of Franco-American friendship.

Grateful for Governor Mikie Sherrill’s reminder of the importance to the very hopeful idea of American liberty from each word of Emma Lazarus’ poem inscribed at the pedestal: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Nobody does Dad-mode harder than this guy. Happy Father’s Day to my Dad and all the great fathers out there.

GVL Saturday. Gym. Voting. Laundry.

Early voting runs through Sunday 21 June ahead of Tuesday’s primary election in NY. Find your location and times here:
https://elections.ny.gov/early-voting

The definition of grit and determination. LFG Knicks!

Five years ago this weekend, I wrote a piece for CNN about the women and men whose stars are etched into the marble Memorial Wall at CIA Headquarters, including the seven lost in the Khost attack in 2009. Their deaths had a profound impact on me and my counterterrorism career at CIA. They gave their lives in service to this country, and we honor them this Memorial Day.
Much has changed since I wrote the piece. Kabul fell and 13 American service members were killed in the withdrawal. Our Afghan partners were left behind. The great war of our time ended in a way that undermined confidence in our nation’s leaders — confidence that has eroded even further as 15 more American troops have died, this time in a new war with Iran. But the 140 stars on the CIA Wall are still there, and the debt we owe the people behind them and every life lost in service to this country has not changed.
This weekend is for the fallen — those who gave everything in service to our country, in uniform and out of it. I am re-sharing the 2021 article linked below, because the “Stars of Afghanistan” still deserve to be looked upon with gratitude and remembrance.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/29/opinions/fallen-stars-afghanistan-memorial-day-castelli

May is Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month. HD is a brain disease passed down in families from generation to generation. HD causes deterioration in a person’s physical, mental, and emotional abilities, and currently has no cure.

In addition to the debilitating effects, the disease takes a tremendous toll on the families and loved ones caring for those with HD - like mine.

Donations to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) this month are match 2x1 and will help provide critical support, education, advocacy, and hope to individuals and families navigating life with HD.

Consider joining me in donating: https://give.hdsa.org/campaign/795993/donate

Last night I attended ’s presentation of his office’s latest report on Camp Nooteeming in Pleasant Valley. The report highlights a growing pattern discovered by the Comptroller’s office of Dutchess County’s gross mismanagement and wasteful spending of tax payer dollars - in this instance to the tune of ~$6M (and growing).

Dutchess is fortunate to have Dan in the Comptroller’s office bringing these issues into the light and better government to our community. was honored to support Dan’s reelection last year.