Neighbor News
Yorktown Schools Honor "Purple Heart' Recipient Eugene Lang
Yorktown school district holds ceremony for town resident Eugene Lang, a recent Purple Heart recipient
Former Sergeant Eugene Lang, a longtime Yorktown resident, was recognized and celebrated at Mildred E. Strang Middle School March 3 in a ceremony that included local students, Yorktown Central School District administrators, teachers and staff, elected officials and military veterans including members of the American Legion Post 1009.
Mr. Lang fled Soviet-occupied Hungary in 1956 when he was nine years old. He grew up in the Bronx and eventually relocated his family to Yorktown.
In 1968, while serving in Vietnam, Sergeant Lang was wounded, treated and returned to the battlefield where he continued to courageously serve our country. Somewhere along life's path his records were lost resulting in his never receiving the Purple Heart. However, in 2012, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) corrected this error and delivered the Purple Heart to Mr. Lang's Yorktown home without a full-fledged ceremony, explained Dr. Ralph Napolitano, superintendent of Yorktown schools in his remarks.
Find out what's happening in Yorktown-Somersfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Wreaths were laid outside the school at a Vietnam Veteran’s memorial by Dr. Napolitano and State Sen. Terrence Murphy (R-40th district).
“It was such a great honor to bring Sgt. Lang to our schools and to recognize his dedicated service to our nation. As a longtime Yorktown resident, he is a local treasure and a great example to our students about leading by example and serving our community and country with courage and fortitude,” Napolitano said.
Find out what's happening in Yorktown-Somersfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Murphy asked that the Middle School house the New York State Senate Veterans’ Wall of Fame exhibit in its lobby from March 3 through the middle of the month. The exhibit then travels to Mt. Pleasant Community Center.
Sen. Murphy said he was touched by the presentation.
“Our veterans are what make this nation so unique. They gave us our freedom. They protect us and make us the greatest country in the world,” he said. “The humility, dedication and selflessness they’ve shown is a fine example of how we should all live our lives. They are truly American heroes.”
