Community Corner
9 World War II Veterans To Be Honored At Long Island's American Airpower Museum
The public is invited to attend the event and have a meet-and-greet with the veterans.
FARMINGDALE, NY — Nine World War II-era veterans are set to reunite on Dec. 4 at the American Airpower Museum in Farmingdale, according to a news release from the museum.
The reunion is slated to run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the museum, at Hangar 3, Republic Airport, 1230 New Highway, Farmingdale. The public is invited to attend and applaud the veterans during a "Ceremony of Honors." Each veteran will be presented with a personalized tribute journal full of photographs taken when they visited Washington, D.C. together on Oct. 3 for a "Changing of the Guard" and wreath-laying ceremony.
Public admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and veterans, $8 for kids ages 5 through 12. The nine veterans being honored, as well as their guardians and families, will be able to attend for free. Preregistration is not required for public admission. More information can be found on the American Airpower Museum website or by calling 631-293-6398.
Find out what's happening in Farmingdalefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"The public can meet and greet this gallant Band of Brothers and one Sister!" the museum wrote in an email.
They are: Dominick Critelli, 100, Army, Floral Park; Vincent DePalo, 98, Army Air Corps, Bethpage; Constantine Efthimiades, 96, Army, Whitestone; Robert Harms, 95, Navy, Carle Place; Louis Peretz, 100, Army Air Corps, Commack; Eleanor Rizutto, 100, Army, Franklin Square; Stephen Samsel, 94, Navy, Fairfield, CT; Vincent Tolve, 98, Army Air Corps, Mastic Beach; Eugene Zanger, 93, Army, Massapequa.
Find out what's happening in Farmingdalefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Keynote speeches are set to be made by Honor Flight Long Island President Bill Jones and American Airpower Museum President and Founder Jeff Clyman. Elected officials are expected to attend and present citations to the veterans, according to the museum.
The Fort Salonga Community Band is slated to play the patriotic medley known as the “Armed Forces Salute,” featuring five official melodies of the United States Armed Forces: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.
Free refreshments will be provided for all by Honor Flight Long Island.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
