Veterans Day was observed by communities all over the Town of North Hempstead as a day to honor those who have served.
North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and Councilmembers Peter Zuckerman, Dennis Walsh and Mariann Dalimonte, Clerk Ragini Srivastava and Receiver of Taxes Charles Berman also hosted their annual “Thank You to Our Veterans” event. On Nov. 10 at New Hyde Park’s Clinton G. Martin Park, the barbecue luncheon recognized the men and women who courageously put themselves in harm’s way to protect America’s freedoms.
Port Washington hosted its third annual Veterans Day Car Parade. The parade started on Campus Drive and traveled north on Port Washington Boulevard to Main Street, where it ended at the Sousa Band Shell.
Following that, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1819 and the American Legion Post 509 held a ceremony at the Sousa Band Shell at 11 a.m. — the same time the armistice with Germany went into effect on Nov. 11, 1918, unofficially ending World War I.
The following year President Woodrow Wilson declared Nov. 11 Armistice Day, to commemorate those who served in the conflict. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed the title to Veterans Day, to recognize those who served in all conflicts.
In New Hyde Park, veterans and residents gathered at village hall in the rain to honor those that have served.
“The village honors our great veterans for their bravery, courage and sacrifice on behalf of our country,” said Mayor Christopher Devane. “They personify what it means to be a role model and hero in our society. Veterans are the backbone of this and every community in our nation. They deserve our thanks and respect for their outstanding service.”
In Williston Park, a ceremony was held outside village hall on the corner of Willis Avenue and Meagher Place that featured veterans groups, the Williston Park Fire Department, Boy Scouts and students from St. Aidan’s, among others.
Mayor Paul Ehrbar reminded those in attendance to always thank active service members and veterans for their service whenever possible and expressed his gratitude to the village’s veterans groups for their many contributions to Williston Park.
“Today we want to celebrate and honor all veterans in the military,” Ehrbar said, “because every day we have brave men and women serving our great nation in times of peace and times of war.”
In Mineola, a brief ceremony was held at Memorial Park in front of the village’s veterans memorial and featured local veterans, village officials, residents and the boy scouts, among others.
Floral Park’s American Legion Post 334 hosted its annual march and ceremony beginning on Tulip and Atlantic Avenue. After marching towards the village’s Veterans Memorial Park, a brief ceremony was held.
