Mid-Hudson Bridges to Shine Red, White & Blue for Social Security’s 90th Anniversary

By Rockland Daily Staff

Some Hudson Valley icons, including the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Mid-Hudson Bridge, and the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, will be illuminated in red, white, and blue on August 14 to mark the 90th anniversary of Social Security.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the tribute as part of a statewide lighting of landmarks to honor the landmark program, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 14, 1935. The Social Security Act has provided financial protection for generations of Americans, including more than 3.7 million New Yorkers who receive benefits today.

The bridge lightings will be part of a larger celebration across New York, with sites such as One World Trade Center, the Kosciuszko Bridge, Niagara Falls, and Grand Central Terminal’s Pershing Square Viaduct also participating.

In New York, Social Security benefits total nearly $82 billion annually, supporting retirees, survivors, and individuals with disabilities. Officials emphasized the program’s enduring importance and reaffirmed their commitment to protecting it against federal threats.

This year also marks other milestones in support of older adults, including the 60th anniversaries of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act, along with historic state investments in aging services under Governor Hochul’s affordability agenda.