59 Military Tribute Banners Presented To Ardsley Officials

ARDSLEY, NY — Military Tribute Banners honoring 59 men and women from Ardsley will be placed on poles lining Ashford Avenue and elsewhere in the village to be displayed throughout November to correspond with Veterans Day observances.

Sharon Colabello, the lead organizer of the Ardsley Military Tribute Banners and daughter of the late Marty Engleman, a decorated World War II veteran, said that Ardsley’s participation level exceeded her expectations given the comparatively small veterans' population of about 140. It represents one of the region’s single largest levels of participation and the only one to date in the Rivertowns.

Colabello also commended the Ardsley Post 458, led by Commander Efrain Hernandez, for doing an outstanding job in helping to promote and administer the enrollment of participants. “It speaks worlds about how deeply the Ardsley community honors the sons, daughters and grand and great grandchildren of those like my father who served with honor in the U.S. Armed Forces," she said.

The banners naming those who served in the U.S. military were presented to village officials during a recent ceremony held at Louis Pascone Memorial Park. Family members of deceased veterans gathered for the special event. About 15 veterans with their family members and friends were also on hand.

One of the highlights of the ceremony was the participation of 10-year-old Girl Scout Noelle DiMeglio of Troop 2937 which sponsored a banner for Dorothy Kaufman who served with the WAVES.

“It was utterly one of the most inspiring and moving moments when family members and
others unfurled and proudly displayed the banners during the ceremony,” Colabello
noted, adding: “We are all looking forward to seeing all 59 tribute banners prominently
on display for all in our community and visitors to see and admire.”

Colabello’s father, Martin Engleman, served as a sergeant with the U.S. Army in World War II and was honored with a Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantry Badge. When he passed away on October 4, 2017 at the age of 91, his obituary noted: “He remained patriotic throughout his life and participated in all veteran activities including the Honor Flight, Westchester County Veterans Breakfast and American Legion Poppy Fundraiser. He owned and operated Marty's Mug & Munch from 1969-89. The Ardsley restaurant was legendary for its award-winning hamburgers.”

Some facts about the 59 veterans honored in Ardsley’s Military Tribute Banner Program:

When Served

• WWI - 1 Veteran
• WWII - 35 Veterans
• Korea - 9 Veterans
• Cold War - 2 Veterans
• Vietnam - 10 Veterans
• Gulf War - 1 Veteran
• 2018- Present - 1 Serviceman
• 1979-1983 - 1 Veteran

Military Branches Served

• U.S. Army - 28
• U.S. Navy - 19
• US Army Signal Corps, US Army Air Force, US Marine Corps, US Coast Guard - 12
• One woman was a U.S. Navy nurse lieutenant assigned to naval hospitals
• One woman served with the WAVES.

Awards/Decorations

5 Earned Purple Hearts among several other commendations Highlights of Military Services

• Pearl Harbor Survivor - 1
• Ships Represented - USS West Virginia, USS Hector, USS Salem,
• Battles Fought - Battle of The Bulge, D Day Omaha Beach, Battle of Saint Lo, Battle of
• Saint Germaine, Battle of Saipan & Okinawa
• Stationed at Nuremberg Trials
• Naval Hospitals Served - Jacksonville, Rhode Island, San Diego

Ranks

Privates, corporals, sergeants, yeoman second class, petty officers, quartermaster,
lieutenants, captains, lieutenant colonel and major general

The veterans honored on the banners:

Bavosa, John
Beckett, Arthur J.
Brilis, Michael N.
Bunch, Jr., Robert E.
Cherico, Jr., Frank R.
Cilurzo, Patsy
Cohen, Rubin M.
Colabello, William J.
Damascus, Adam James
David, Morton J.
DePasquale, Matthew J.
Doherty, Frank
Dreaper, Elizabeth A.
Dualsky, Rudolf J.
Duryea, Charles E.
Eberle, George W.
Engleman, Martin
Florkowski, Christopher
Franken, Harold J.
Geraghty, Richard
Geraghty, Thomas
Giusti, August John
Godley, Robert (Bob)
Granite, Bernie
Green, Jerome
Groth, Henry H.
Groth, Jr., William J.
Gutierrez, Raymond 'Ray'
Hernandez, Efrain
Ikwild, Sr., Charles W
Kaboolian, Paul
Kaufman, Daniel
Kaufman, Dorothy W.
Keehan, George
Macri, Jack
Macri, Nicholas D.
Maranino, Albert A.
McCartney, Arthur G.
Mitler, Milton D.
Mosca, Philip J.
Nolan, William P.
Perillo, Ralph F.
Piscitelli, Vincent
Ricci, Aldo A.
Riccio, Michael S.
Riguzzi, Evo
Roemer, Daniel F.
Romano, Cosmo
Rudy, William (Bill)
Santoro, Andrew
Seitz, Paul A.
Seitz, Sally E.
Serrano, Domenick
Thorpe, Ward E.
Viani, Bruno
Watson, Robert W.
Whelan, Kenneth
Wittenberg, Stephen
Zezze, Samuel F.