American Legion honors its own, community members

Merrick American Legion Post No. 1282 recently held its 2010 year-end party, at which four community members were honored.

Booker T. Gibson, a longtime post member from North Merrick, who retired as a music teacher in Valley Stream, was honored as Post No. 1282’s Legionnaire of the Year. Gibson was profiled in a two-part Herald series, “Breaking racial barriers at every turn,” which ran in the paper in December and is now available online.

Pasquale Farese was honored for his service to the American Legion. Nassau County Legislator David Denenberg, of Merrick, was presented the post’s Community Service Award. And Scott Brinton, senior editor of the Merrick and Bellmore Heralds, also of Merrick, received the post’s Appreciation Award for his work in publicizing post activities over the past 12 years.

Roughly 50 post members and their families attended the party at post headquarters on Merrick Road. Maj. Al Garbarino, an Army reservist from North Merrick who fought in the Iraq War, lit the candle in remembrance of America’s prisoners of war.

Comments about this story? SBrinton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 203.