EFD commissioner tagged as veterans affairs chief

Elmont Fire District Commissioner Ralph Esposito, 69, has been chosen by Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano to be his veterans affairs chief.

Katie Grilli-Robles, press secretary for Mangano, confirmed the county executive’s choice to the Herald and said that Esposito has many qualifications. He will be charged with assisting all of the county’s veterans with stress and housing, in addition to several other war-related issues veterans may have.

Grilli-Robels said that for the past 47 years, Esposito has been an active member of American legion Post 1037, in Elmont, of which he has served as commander and treasurer. He was selected as a “legioneer of the year” in 1998 and 1999. Esposito was also honored for his dedicated service as “legioneer of the year for Nassau, Suffolk and Queens county” in 2009 and 2010. He is also a member of the VFW and the Vietnam Veterans of Nassau County organizations. In 2011, he served as the honorary vice chairman for the Toys for Tots program.

Many county residents remember the fire commissioner as a devoted Republican who lobbied for Mangano’s re-election last year.

Esposito, himself a Navy veteran, served from 1962-64 in Vietnam.