Local Veteran Thrilled To Be Honored At Sunday's Yankee Game

EAST QUOGUE, NY — It was a proud moment for Linda Aydinian of East Quogue, as she saw her beloved father, a brave veteran, honored at the Yankee game Sunday.

Leonard J. Pecora, known affectionately as "Len" or "Lenny," was named the Yankees' Veteran of the Game.

He turned 96 years old on August 9 — and learned he was being honored by the Yankees at his birthday dinner.

Sgt. Pecora, who lives in St. James, served as a welder for the Army Air Corp during World War II; the Army Air Corp went on to become the United States Air Force, his daughter said. Her father, she added, worked on the planes that flew the China India Burma Triangle, or the CBI campaign.

He was stationed in India and China and rose to the rank of sergeant before being discharged at the war's end.

Sgt. Pecora, she said, "remembers going by ship to Tasmania before being sent to India. He had a pet monkey while there named 'Jocko' and the men would often go hunting in the bush at night to help supplement their meager rations."

Aydinian said her husband told her that a veteran is honored at every Yankee game. She did a Google search and filled out an application with Combat Wounded Veterans of America, she said — without breathing a word to her dad.

She was initially told her father would be recognized next season but then, there was a cancellation, Aydinian said.

"We got an email that he was selected!" she said.

Sgt. Pecora received 4 VIP tickets — Aydinian's brother, nephew and son brought him to the game, where the Yankees played the Boston Red Sox.

Her father, she said, was able to stand by home plate, where his name and service record were announced during the 7th inning stretch, and then the crowd sang along with Kate Smith in a heartfelt version of "God Bless America."

The moment was a once in a lifetime memory for her father, Aydinian said.

When he was told at his birthday dinner, "He had no idea. He was over the moon excited, thrilled, and humbled. Rather overwhelmed."

Her dad, Aydinian said, still has his uniform shirt, which still fits. "He is a very big Yankees fan," she said.

And, she said, her dad's patriotism still rings strong and true — he's a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars — and still sells poppies for the organization, as well as proudly participates in all the VFW parades.

Patch courtesy photos, video.