4th Annual Tribute and Honor Awards Celebrates Local Veterans

Glen Cove, NY – The 4th Annual Tribute and Honor Awards and Fundraising Gala, held on Saturday night, was a tremendous success, bringing together a sold-out crowd to celebrate local veterans and veteran supporters. The event was hosted by the Tribute and Honor Foundation, and attendees included veterans, supporters, local leaders, and community members who gathered to honor those who make significant contributions to the veteran community.

“We are deeply grateful to everyone who attended this year’s celebration,” said Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews, President of the Tribute and Honor Foundation. “The overwhelming support from the community made this event a remarkable success, showcasing the collective gratitude for the sacrifices made by our veterans. We were honored to recognize some truly outstanding individuals, each of whom embodies the spirit of service, leadership, and dedication.”

Glen Cove Mayor Pam Panzenbeck, who welcomed all on behalf of the City of Glen Cove, remarked, “Where would we be without our beloved veterans? It was an incredible privilege to join the Tribute and Honor Foundation in honoring our veterans, whose service, dedication, and commitment to our nation are truly commendable. I am grateful to stand with so many in our community as we paid tribute to those who make a lasting impact.”

The evening’s program featured the presentation of several prestigious awards to individuals and organizations who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to serving veterans and the community. The honorees included:

2025 Legacy Award Recipient: Tony Bliss
Tony Bliss, a former Staff Sergeant with the 101st Airborne Division, served in Vietnam and was decorated with the Silver Star and Bronze Star for Valor. After his military career, Tony worked as a journalist and scuba diving instructor and founded a publishing company. He remains actively involved in veterans’ organizations, including VFW Post 347 in Glen Cove, the 101st Airborne Division Association, and Locust Valley American Legion Post 962, where he has run the Memorial Day Parade for over 20 years.

2025 Leadership Award Recipient: Robert Bazan
Robert Bazan, a retired Navy Captain with over 30 years of service, has extensive experience in combat operations, emergency management, and commanding reserve units. He is deeply involved in his community as the Past Commander of Glenwood Landing American Legion Post 336 and as a Charter Organization Sponsor for Scout Troop 195.

2025 Community Service Award Recipient: Melonie Longacre
Melonie Longacre serves as the Associate Executive Director of Hospital Operations at Northwell Health for Glen Cove, Plainview, and Syosset Hospitals. A United States Army veteran and Operation Iraqi Freedom War veteran, she is also dedicated to community service, serving as co-chair for Northwell Health's Veterans and Allies Business Employee Resource Group and as a board member for AMVETS Post 76.

2025 Volunteer Award Recipient: Michael Danchalski
Michael Danchalski enlisted in the Army after graduating from Aviation High School. He completed his training at Ft. Knox and Ft. Rucker and joined the 82nd Airborne Division. After serving in the Gulf War and earning several military awards, he left the Army in 1991. Since 2002, Michael has been an active volunteer in the Glen Cove community and participates in both Glen Cove VFW Post 347 and Locust Valley American Legion Post 962.

2025 Homefront Award Recipient: Andrea Nordquist
Andrea Nordquist, President of Military Blue Star Mothers NY 14 since 2021, is a resident of Bellmore and spearheaded the creation of the local chapter, growing it from 12 to over 40 members. She also serves as a Liaison for the Tribute and Honor Foundation, Vice President for Media Relations of The Long Island Air Force Association, and is deeply involved with several veterans' organizations.

2025 Awareness and Remembrance Award Recipient: 22 PTSD Awareness Challenge
The 22 PTSD Awareness Challenge, founded by Frank Lombardi, fellow veteran Chris Levi, and Alex Rhoman, is a 22-mile cross-sound kayak event from Bridgeport, CT, to Port Jefferson, NY, aimed at increasing PTSD awareness, supporting veteran-related nonprofits, and connecting them with the community.

This year, 2024 Tribute and Honor Foundation Award Recipient and Glen Cove Police Officer Derek Valance participated in the event along with his brother, fellow Glen Cove Police Officer Owen Valance.

2025 Impact Award Recipient: Walter Williams
Walter Williams, born in Brooklyn, enlisted in the US Navy in 1974 and served on the USS Graham County AGP 1176 in Naples, Italy.

After returning to Brooklyn in 1976, he served as an Auxiliary Police Sergeant with the NYPD and has worked with the US Department of Veterans Affairs in various roles since 1993. He continues to serve the community as a Glen Cove Auxiliary Police member and in his role at the VA.

2025 Front Runner Award Recipient: Shannon O’Neill
Shannon O'Neill, Director of Veteran Services at Suffolk County Community College, has dedicated nearly 20 years to supporting military-connected students. She established Veterans Resource Centers, increased enrollment, and earned SCCC a VetSuccess On Campus designation.

In addition to her professional contributions, Shannon is also a strong volunteer with veterans' organizations and serves on several advisory boards.

The program began with an invocation by Rabbi Irwin Huberman and Marine Staff Sgt. Evelyn Kandel, Chaplain of the Locust Valley American Legion Post 962. This was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by members of Glen Cove Scout Troop 6 and several local commanders. The Star-Spangled Banner was performed by tenor Joe Stroppel.

After a brief break, dinner was served, and the Awards Ceremony began. Highlights of the evening included a welcome to all veterans on behalf of Korean War veteran and past honoree Ben Farnan, a welcome on behalf of the City of Glen Cove by Mayor Pam Panzenbeck, and special recognition paid to all veterans and active-duty military by the President of the Foundation, Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews.

Recognition was also paid to all commanders and community leaders in attendance by the Foundation’s First Vice President, Connie Pinilla, and elected officials were noted by the Foundation’s Second Vice President, Harold Bollaci.

In addition to the moving speeches delivered by each of the honorees, there were several standout moments throughout the evening. One such moment was the presentation of the Awareness and Remembrance Award, which featured Glen Cove Police Department Officers and Navy veterans Derek and Owen Valance as co-presenters.

The brothers, who participated in a 22-mile cross-sound kayak challenge to raise awareness of PTSD and the alarming rate of suicide among military personnel and veterans. They spoke powerfully about their mission. Officer Owen Valance shared the tragic loss of a fellow veteran to suicide, underscoring the grim reality faced by so many in the military and veteran community.

The Valance brothers will be joining the Tribute and Honor Foundation later this month as the funds raised by their participation in this year’s challenge are donated by the foundation to Glen Cove’s CEC Health (formerly the Charles Evans Center). These funds will support veterans' programs that address PTSD and other mental health challenges, furthering the brothers’ commitment to supporting veterans in need.

“We were proud to be part of the Awards Ceremony and especially proud to participate in the 22 PTSD Awareness Challenge,” said Officer Owen Valance. “It’s crucial that we continue to raise awareness and provide support for our fellow veterans and active-duty personnel who are facing these invisible wounds.” “This challenge is not just about raising money, but rather bringing awareness to the serious issue that many who served our country are silently struggling with today. They need help and this challenge is one way we can bring awareness to those unfortunate struggles,” added Officer Derek Valance.

Looking ahead, the Valance brothers have committed again to join the Tribute and Honor Foundation in participating in the 22-mile kayak challenge in 2025, continuing their dedication to raising awareness and supporting veterans' mental health initiatives.

Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Volunteer Award to Michael Danchalski. Foundation board member and coordinator of the Glen Cove Salutes banner program, Lydia Wen Rodgers, co-presented the award alongside Tribute and Honor Foundation President Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews. Representing both the board and City of Glen Cove Director of Veteran Affairs, Tony Jimenez, Rodgers conveyed Jimenez’s congratulations and spoke to Danchalski’s dedication to service.

“Michael's dedication and tireless efforts have truly made a difference in the lives of so many in our community," Rodgers remarked. "His passion for serving veterans and the city is an inspiration to us all.”

The evening also included a special moment recognizing Melonie Longacre for her unwavering work in support of veterans. Susan Rassekh, Senior Director of Operations, Office of Community Wellness and Population Health - Central Region, Northwell, spoke to Longacre’s impact.

“Melonie Longacre’s tireless work for our veterans has made a lasting impact, and it was lovely to see the Tribute and Honor Foundation recognize her for her well-deserved contributions,” Rassekh said. “Her dedication to supporting both veterans and the broader community reflects the values we hold dear at Northwell Health. Her commitment is truly commendable.” Lisa Cohen, who received last year’s Homefront Award with her husband, Wayne, had the honor of presenting this year’s award to Andrea Nordquist.

“It was a privilege to present the Homefront Award to Andrea Nordquist, whose dedication to the Blue Star Mothers and unwavering commitment to supporting military families is truly exceptional,” Cohen shared. “We were proud to join the Tribute and Honor Foundation in honoring someone so deserving of this recognition.”

Shannon O’Neill, Director of Veterans Services at Suffolk County Community College and recipient of the Front Runner Award, reflected on what the recognition meant to her.

“I am deeply honored to receive the Front Runner Award,” O’Neill said. “It was a privilege to be recognized for my work supporting veterans. Celebrating the service and dedication of our veterans alongside so many incredible individuals is something I will always cherish. I’m grateful to the Tribute and Honor Foundation for its steadfast commitment to honoring our heroes.”

The final award of the evening—the Legacy Award—was presented to Tony Bliss. Center Island Mayor and Commander of Howard A. Van Wagner Locust Valley American Legion Post 962, Laurence Schmidlapp, joined Glen Cove American Legion Post 76 Commander and former Legacy Award recipient Vinnie Martinez in honoring Bliss for his lifelong service.

“Tony Bliss has dedicated his life to service—both in uniform and in his unwavering commitment to veterans and the community,” Schmidlapp stated. “His leadership, advocacy, and dedication to honoring those who have served make him a truly deserving recipient of this award.”

Reflecting on the evening, Bob Bazan, a retired Navy Captain and Leadership Award recipient, stated: "I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition, as leadership in any military or civilian role is all about taking care of your people. If you take care of your people, then they will take care of everything else. It was so refreshing to hear all of the awardees' contributions to the veterans in our community, and I am proud to serve with them."

Many community leaders from across Long Island were in attendance, including Glen Cove Deputy Police Chief Chris Ortiz, Glen Cove Police PBA President Chris Pascucci, Glen Cove Auxiliary Police Chief Rosa Diez,

President of the Glen Cove Chamber Dr. Maxine Mayreis, former Presidents of the Glen Cove Chamber Matt Nartowicz and Mary Stanco,

President of the North Shore Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Connie Pinilla, North Shore Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Vice President Ever Padilla, Cooking For Long Island Veterans Founder Rena Sylvester,

Vice Chairs of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center Dr. Bernie Furshpan and Jolanta Zamecka,

President of Loggia Glen Cove Marisa Gambino, Immediate Past President of Loggia Glen Cove Joe Gallo, Operation Vest Co-Founders Jenny and Stefan Hespeler, Commanders Laurence Schmidlapp, Howard Stillwagon, Vinnie Martinez, and Luke Whitting,

Nassau County American Legion Adjutant Dawn Samuel, Wayne and Lisa Cohen with Patriot Guard Riders of New York and Rolling Thunder, Inc., Team EVA Founder Eva Casale,

CEO/Co-founder of The Black 6 Project, President of Blue Star Mothers NY 14 Andrea Nordquist, and Rabbi Irwin Huberman, to name a few.

Elected officials in attendance included Comptroller Elaine Phillips, Glen Cove Mayor Pam Panzenbeck, Center Island Mayor Laurence Schmidlapp, Judge Joe Capobianco, and Glen Cove Council Members Grady Farnan, Michael Ktistakis, Marsha Silverman, and John Zozzaro. Deputy Mayor Donna McNaughton and Cindy Rogers, representing Congressman Tom Suozzi, were also present.

The following elected officials provided citations to honor the award recipients: County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Congressman Tom Suozzi, Comptroller Elaine Phillips, Mayor Pam Panzenbeck, State Assemblymember Charles Lavine, North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, Oyster Bay Supervisor Joe Saladino, and County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton.

Foundation President Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews expressed his gratitude to the many sponsors, including Silver Sponsors Herald Community Media, First Central Savings Bank, and Men on the Move Moving and Storage;

Bronze Star Sponsors Blackbaud Giving Fund, Bollaci Law Group, PC, Chelsea Connected Lighting Solutions, Emerge Nursing and Rehabilitation, Gaitley and Jim Stevenson-Mathews, Glen Cove Nursing and Rehabilitation, Glen Cove Republican Committee, Lydia and Michael Rodgers,

and Hon. Diane and Bernard Yatauro; and Meritorious Service Sponsors CareFirst Home Solutions, Distefano Charitable Foundation, Glengariff Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, Halliday Financial Group, Howard and Mary Stillwagon, How Can I Help Elder Care, Manzione Dentistry,

Mayor Pam and Bob Panzenbeck, Pinilla Law Firm, State Farm - John Perone Agency, Team EVA, The Celeste Gullo Insurance Agency, The Mansion at Glen Cove, and The Regency at Glen Cove.

Thanks were also expressed to those who donated raffle items, including Adventureland, Better Water, Cousin Paintball, Gurney Montauk Resort & Spa, Henry Café, Law Office of Harold Bollaci, Long Island Ducks, Scoop N Fruit, The Connie Pinilla Team, Victory Restoration and Cleaning, and many others.

The Tribute and Honor Foundation’s eight-member board includes President Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews, 1st Vice President Connie Pinilla, 2nd Vice President Harold Bollaci, Secretary Angelina Stanco-Stone, Treasurer Thomas Bunger, Community Engagement Officer Mike Gadaleta, Programming and Events Officer Koorosh Leibowitz, and Online and Media Content Officer Lydia Wen Rodgers.

Jeanine DiMenna serves as Co-Founder and Member Emeritus, and the foundation is proud to have a Liaison Committee of 12 members from across Long Island.

To learn more about the Tribute and Honor Foundation, including information on the organization’s work and mission as well as support opportunities, visit www.TributeAndHonorFoundation.org.