Long Island Soldier, NYPD Officer Remembered At 19th Annual Fundraiser

WANTAGH, NY — For nearly two decades, a Long Island family has been honoring a soldier who was killed by sniper fire in Iraq.

Staff Sergeant James McNaughton, who was based out of Uniondale, also served as a MTA police officer.

Each year, a fundraiser is held at Mulcahy's Pub in Wantagh. The 19th annual event takes place on Feb. 3.

Vinny Zecca is a family friend, who knew McNaughton since the third grader grew up in Centerreach.

"Jimmy was mature beyond his years," Zecca recalled. "He was more loyal than anybody I ever met in my life."

McNaughton was 27 when he was fatally shot in Aug. 2005.

This year— the 19th annual tribute, is anticipated as "the most emotional," Zecca said, as McNaughton's father Bill, a retired NYPD officer, died last month from 9/11-related cancer. "It's going to be one of those [events] that takes us back to the first year."

While Zecca didn't announce how much money the fundraiser could take in, he did point out that they typically have between 900-1200 people in attendance.

A $20 donation is requested. Live music and free food are part of the 1-9 p.m. event.

That money will go toward the Northport P.T.S.D Veterans Association.

"Something like this is, obviously, close to the family," Zecca said.

Holding the fundraiser honors other fallen heroes who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, supporting veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury by keeping McNaughton's memory alive.

Zecca has plenty of his own memories, such as playing sports when they were in junior high school. While most of the kids dreamt of playing in a Super Bowl, "he used to say that his Super Bowl would be serving the country," Zecca said.