Nassau County American Legion honors vets at ball

Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood” played from speakers in the ballroom of Leonard’s La Dolce Vita as veterans from across Nassau County gathered for the ninth American Legion’s annual Military Ball and Post Commanders Night on Feb. 20.

Veterans wore black bow ties, suits decorated with medals and caps with pins of honor. Frank Colón Jr., a past county commander who grew up in North Bellmore, began the ceremony by thanking the veterans for their service. A table was set up near the podium in honor of prisoners of war and those who went missing in action.

“We call our attention to this small table, which occupies a place of dignity and honor,” Colón said. “The table is small, symbolizing the frailty of one prisoner alone against his or her suppressors. The tablecloth is white, symbolic of the purity of intentions to respond to their country’s call [to] arms. The single red rose in the vase signifies the blood they may have shed in sacrifice to ensure the free dom of our beloved United States of America.”

Colón and his fellow veterans grew emotional when recognizing missing soldiers.“The glass is inverted; they cannot toast with us at this time,” he said. He paused

Nassau County Commander Steve McManus, Department Vice Commander Vincent Calimano, Department Judge Advocate Charles Mills, Queens County Commander Paul Schottenhamel, 10th District Commander Keneth Cadieux and Suffolk County Commander William Farley led the Pledge of Allegiance. Members of more than 20 American Legion posts from across Nassau attended the event, including the Merrick and Bellmore posts.

“I’ve always attended this ball, every year since it started,” Merrick Post 1282 Commander Kenneth Braun said. “It’s a fellowship of all veterans coming together — it’s hard to get them all at one time in one place — but we all come together to celebrate each other.”

Braun said that veterans from across the county look forward to the ball. “It’s the event of the year,” he said.