CURRAN RECOGNIZES LOCAL VETERANS FROM ROCKVILLE CENTRE, SOUTH HEMPSTEAD, BALDWIN WITH VETERANS' HALL OF HONOR CEREMONY

Assemblyman Brian Curran (Lynbrook-21st AD) recently recognized and honored 16 local veterans at his annual Veterans’ Hall of Honor event at the St. Mary’s/Maris Stella Council #2228 Knights of Columbus in Lynbrook. This year’s honoree from Rockville Centre is Paul Viscovich (picture one); from South Hempstead, Raymond Spatz (picture two); and Baldwin Post, but Rockville Centre resident, Kenneth Cadieux (picture three). Family members and friends of the honorees were invited to celebrate in the recognition. Thanking the veterans for their service and patriotism to their country and community, Curran presented each honoree with an official New York State Assembly Proclamation.

“This is always a special event that gives our community the opportunity to celebrate and honor the brave men and women, like Paul, Raymond and Ken, who sacrificed so much to ensure our freedoms and our way of life,” said Curran. “We owe everything that we enjoy today to those who are called to serve their country and each of our veterans deserves our gratitude and respect. This recognition is but a small token of appreciation for everything that they have achieved for this great nation and its citizens.”

Paul Viscovich enlisted in the United States Army after high school. Paul proudly served in the 101st Airborne Division, known as the Screaming Eagles, for six years. During his service he was tasked with keeping our military’s helicopters in working order while stationed in the Middle East. After leaving the army, he worked in his family’s restaurant business on Long Island. About 13 years ago, Paul began working with homeless veterans. It was around that time that Jay and Anne De Bono, formally of De Bono’s Delicatessen, asked Paul to help the United Veterans Organization – he has enjoyed doing it ever since. Paul is amazed, grateful and very lucky to have tremendous, growing support from local families, friends, and businesses that allows him to do more each year to help veterans in our community. Paul and his wife, Kim, live in Rockville Centre with their children, Nina and Jack. Paul can almost always be found at Dario’s Restaurant, the Viscovich family restaurant.

Raymond Spatz was born and raised in South Hempstead. Ray only left this community in 1966 when he enlisted in the United States Navy. Ray is proud to have served his country aboard the USS Topeka CLG-8 and reached the rank of an E-4. Ray was assigned to commissary, where he worked with his fellow shipmates to feed the ship on a daily basis. He earned the nickname “Cookie,” as he did the baking of bread, rolls and, of course, cookies. Ray was aboard the USS Topeka CLG-8, a cruiser, on two Mediterranean missions, and also went through the Panama Canal several times. His last trip through the canal was in 1969 on the final cruise headed to Boston, MA to decommission the CLG-8. Ray is a disabled veteran, having sustained a head injury during one of the Mediterranean missions. Upon his return home, Ray joined the South Hempstead Fire Department in 1971 and remains with the department to this date.

Ken Cadieux joined the New York National Guard in 1950. His outfit, the 955th Field Artillery Bn., was mobilized for federal service during training at Pine Camp (Fort Drum, NY) and shipped to Korea. Ken was in Korea until 1952 when he was rotated home and returned to reserve duty for the balance of his Army time. Ken has been working with veterans for over 50 years and has held many positions in veterans’ affairs. He is still very active with many veterans’ projects. Currently, he is the 10th District Commander of the American Legion (Nassau, Suffolk and Queens). He is the past County Commander in the Nassau County American Legion and still serves on seven committees. Ken is also active and serves as an officer on the following: United Veterans Organization (UVO), which encompasses 27 veterans organizations working for veterans; Long Island National Cemetery Memorial Organization, overseeing and assisting the National Cemetery in Farmingdale; Nassau County Veterans Advisory Board; Nassau County Monument Committee; Nassau County Homeless Veterans Project; and the Forty and Eight Nurses Scholarship Program. Ken currently collects, stores, and provides the items used for our community’s homeless veterans program at his house such as clothes, food, shoes, coats, walkers, wheelchairs, electric scooters, and all the supplies that are sent to our troops overseas.

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