Town Dedicates Portion Of Commack Street In Honor Local Hero

COMMACK, NY - The Town of Smithtown recently dedicated a portion of Wichard Boulevard in Commack to local hero U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Michael Edward Blanco.

On Sunday, local and County Elected officials joined with the Blanco Family, the American Legion Riders (Greenlawn and Sayville) and American Legion Ladies Post 1244, with a Hook & Ladder Flag salute raised in unity by the Smithtown and Nesconset Fire Departments, in honor of the street sign unveiling.

A line of American flags along Wichard Blvd were held by members of AM Vets, the Patriot Guard Riders, Missing in America, Veterans for Freedom with “PT” Tom Imerti and American Legion Auxiliary Greenlawn chapter (1244).

The street dedication for Blanco is Suffolk County’s first-in-kind memorial to a soldier or veteran who lost his or her battle to PTSD.

“We’re setting precedent today... with the hopes that all Americans will remember brave and selfless individuals like Michael for the way they lived, the empathy they exhibited and the sacrifices made," Supervisor Ed Wehrheim said.

The ceremony was held at Wichard Blvd and Philson Ct. on the block where Blanco grew up.

County and local leaders including, Legislator Leslie Kennedy, Legislator Rob Trotta, Comptroller John Kennedy, Supervisor Edward Wehrheim, Councilwoman Lisa Inzerillo, Councilman Tom Lohmann, Superintendent Robert Murphy and Town Clerk Vincent Puleo stood beside the Blanco family in solidarity.

Legislator Leslie Kennedy presented an honorary proclamation from Suffolk County to the Blanco family in addition to the Town of Smithtown Proclamation.

The street dedication signs can be viewed at the beginning of Wichard Boulevard at the Corners of Plymouth Boulevard, Philson Court and at Kings Park Road.

“When Michael was in High School he asked me to give him extra lunch money… Every week I’d give him more and more money," his father, Bruce Blanco, said. I learned later on that there were kids who couldn’t afford to eat lunch. Michael gave the Lunch Lady that money and said, Don’t tell them where it came from, just make sure they get fed… That was Michael. He did more in his 19 years than most of us will do in a lifetime."

Before the street sign unveiling, local and county leaders spoke briefly about the significance of this ceremony.

There are also plans to construct a PTSD memorial later this year at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park.

However, Smithtown is the first community in Suffolk County to memorialize a soldier who suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, with a patriot guard, his family and neighbors all proudly holding American flags.

"PTSD is a terrible thing and the thought that at the end of this day we will have lost another 22 soldiers… and another 22 families will experience what our family experienced devastates me," his mother, Donna Blanco, said. "And so to honor Michael this way, to help bring more awareness to this… because we cannot lose one more soldier to PTSD. And I am so grateful for everyone who came out to support us today… This neighborhood is amazing."

Photos courtesy of the Town of Smithtown