After 70 Years, World War II Vet Receives Purple Heart, Bronze Star

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NORTH FORK, NY - The honor has been a long time coming.

The words were uttered more than once Saturday as a crowd gathered at the First Baptist Church of Greenport for a deeply meaningful and heartfelt ceremony to award Reg Peterson with a Bronze Star and Purple heart he earned 70 long years ago.

Peterson, who will be 91 in June, served in World War II from 1943 to 1946, just after the Battle of the Bulge, as an Army Tech Sergeant.

Kathy Wood, Peterson's daughter, said although her dad, who was in charge of discharging other troops, saw that his comrades received their medals, when it came for his dismissal, there were no medals left.

"This day has been 70 years in the making," she said.

Ward and other wrote a sea of letters, including one to the President of the United States, and eventually he received the medals in the mail — but never had a ceremony to honor him for his heroism.

All that changed when a friend contacted Congressman Lee Zeldin, who turned out Saturday to shine a light on Peterson's lifetime of service.

Peterson's love for others didn't end with the war: For years, Peterson has been involved with Operation Christmas Child, through Samaritan's Purse. He's personally send 15,000 shoe boxes to children in need at Christmas.

In 2006, Peterson was also involved in a morale party for his granddaughter in Iraq, packing items such as chocolate cupcakes to lift spirits.

His eyes shining, Peterson said he wanted his granddaughter to laugh, to smile, and to forget, for a moment, the war around her.

Zeldin, surrounded by Southold Town Councilmen Bill Ruland and James Dinizio, along with Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski, thanked the Patriot Guard Riders for always attending event to honor veterans. Also in attendance was Southold Town government liaison Denis Noncarrow and CAST members.

Zeldin, who has served in Iraq and is still a member of the Reserves, said he was looking at a map of Europe and said the map would have been very different had it not been for the heroism of troops who headed off to war, some never to return.

Today, the heroism runs strong, with troops serving who were only three years old on 9/11, Zeldin said.

Looking at the shrapnel alongside Peterson's medals, Zeldin said, "You don't win a Purple Heart." Instead, he said, it's earned through sacrifice, courage, valor and heroism.

Zeldin also thanked the families at home while troops are off at war for their sacrifices.

An emotional Peterson spoke of his God, who opened His arms and held him in his hands throughout the war — and his entire life. Copies of Psalm 91, the biblical passage that got him through the war, were on a table for guests to share.

"He is an awesome God," Peterson said.