Huntington High School Alumni Welcomed at Vietnam Memorial

Image: Supervisor Frank Petrone, Class of 1964 Reunion Committee Veterans Chair Lou Pagano and Councilwoman Susan Berland.

Town officials welcomed the Huntington High School Class of 1964 to Huntington’s Vietnam Memorial during a Sept. 27 ceremony. Part of the class’ 50th reunion, the ceremony recognized the alumni who served in Vietnam, including 24 whose names will be added to the memorial next year.

Noting the veterans’ contributions to the nation, Town Supervisor Frank Petrone acknowledged the Class of 1964 reunion committee, and veterans chair Lou Pagano, for spurring the reopening of the wall for new names. Alum Eric Freedman was recognized for donating money to help cover the cost of adding the names.

Pagano spoke about serving in Vietnam and its effect on veterans after returning home. As part of the ceremony, the Huntington High School Chamber Choir, under the direction of Veronica Manville, sang the National Anthem and God Bless America. The invocation was delivered by the Rev. Kirt Watkins and the benediction by Dr. Carol Deinhardt Cohen. Both are members of the Class of 1964.

Originally unveiled in 2003, the wall currently lists the names of 1,112 Vietnam War era veterans who live or lived in Huntington. That includes those on the original three plaques and those who were added in the subsequent five years before the wall was closed in 2008 and a fourth plaque was installed.

In 2013, representatives from the reunion committee approached Petrone about reopening the wall to add names of about 20 classmates. Petrone determined that there was room to accommodate additional names and opened the wall for an additional period that ends Dec 31, 2014. To date, there are 190 names that will be added, including the 24 from the Huntington High School Class of 1964.

The dedication of the new list will be part of ceremonies marking the 40th anniversary of the war’s end in 2015.

To be eligible, a person must have lived in Huntington for six months at any time in their life. An application form must be completed and a copy of the veteran’s DD214 submitted, along with a $15 donation to defray expenses. Contact Carol Rocco, (631) 351-3012 for an application and additional information.