Heroic Park Rangers Receive Special Surprise From NY Jets

ISLIP NY - Two Town of Islip Park Rangers who helped rescue a driver from a freezing Islip canal last month received a special surprise from the New York Jets in honor of their heroism this week.

On Monday, Islip Town officials along with Steve Castleton, NY Jets First Responder and Military Liaison hosted a special ceremony for Anthony LaGrasta and John River in the Islip Town Board Room.

The two were honored for their rescue efforts on Nov. 15 after a car drove off the dock and into the canal, causing it to become partially submerged 60 feet out into the frigid water.

LaGrasta and Rivera both assisted in getting the driver safely out of the cold water. He was suffered only minor injuries.

After the incident, John Raimondi, owner of the restaurant Our Little Italy in West Islip, heard the news and reached out to his longtime friend Castleton who coordinates the NY Jets annual Military Day.

As a result, Castleton joined Supervisor Angie Carpenter to announce that the NY Jets have invited the both park rangers and their families to attend the NY Jets First Responders Night game Saturday, December 16.

The duo will join first responders from all over the tri-state area to help hold a giant flag in a celebration to honor first responders before the game.

"The whole idea of First Responders Day is to honor First Responders from all over the tri-state area for what they do," Castleton, who is a West Islip resident, said. "People forget, that doctors and nurses are First Responders, that park rangers are First Responders, and you never know when you’re going to need one."

Carpenter also provided LaGrasta and Rivera with special Jets hats to wear during the game.

Rivera showed his appreciate for the support from the local community.

"It was just a normal day at work for us," he said.

During the ceremony, Town Councilmen John Cochrane, Jr., and James O'Connor, Councilwomen Trish Bergin Weichbrodt and Mary Kate Mullen, Public Safety Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners Anthony D'Amico and Tony Prudenti and Director of Personnel Arthur Abbate were on hand to help make the announcement.

"The Town of Islip is a closely knit community. While there are more than 330,000 residents in the Town, it still maintains that small town feel," Carpenter said. "Today’s event demonstrates how much people living and working in the Town care about one another. We thought it would be nice to surprise them."

Watch a video from the event below:

Image via Town of Islip