Anthony Jimenez: Glen Cove’s new director of veteran affairs

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Anthony Jimenez has been involved in the medical field during his time in the military, after his time in the military and now again, during his time as the Glen Cove’s new Director of Veteran Affairs.

It was during his time in the army that Jimenez first go into the medical field. As an infantry soldier from 1969 to 1972, Jimenez helped out the medics with bandaging wounded soldiers when they were overwhelmed with patients. He is a decorated U.S. army veteran Sergeant, 1st Cavalry division in Vietnam and Cambodia, was awarded the Vietnam Gallantry medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Purple Heart, Air medal, Army Commendation medal for Valor with oak leaf cluster and the Good Conduct medal.

A Purple Heart recipient himself, Jimenez wasn’t originally aware he was entitled to compensation. That is one aspect he wants to change about veteran affairs. “The primary thing is to educate veterans,” he said. “A lot of them don’t know their entitlements.” He wants to make a “public push” to inform veterans about all the benefits they may be able to obtain. He noted that many veterans are entitled to real estate tax exemptions and medical and disability compensation for combat related issues that they are unaware of.

After his time in the military, Jimenez moved to Levittown. He began working as a surgical technician at Glen Cove Hospital in 1974 where he met his wife, Kathy. The couple moved to Glen Cove in 1980.

In 1988, Jimenez became a court officer and worked in Westbury, Glen Cove, and then was promoted to a superior court officer at the Supreme Court in Mineola.

Around 2000, Jimenez and two other EMTs approached the Supreme Court administrative judge, suggesting they bring an automatic defibrillator into the courtroom in case of emergencies. Jimenez said that at the time, automatic defibrillators weren’t very popular and the judge was worried for liability reasons, so he turned them down. A few years later, after the change in administration, Jimenez and the EMTs tried again. The new judge said yes, and they purchased the machine. Several weeks later, a juror went into cardiac arrest during a hearing. The juror lived because of the automatic defibrillator.

Jimenez said his time in the army influenced his interest in the medical field. “It changed my way of thinking,” he said. “Life is precious, and we want to be able to enjoy it and I think the best way to enjoy it is by doing the next right thing.”

That incident received a lot of press from local news outlets and made it’s way up to Albany. The chief judge in Albany then ordered the defibrillators to be installed in all court houses. Jimenez and the other officers were awarded with promotions, and from there he became Deputy Commissioner of Jurors for Nassau County. He recently retired from this position after serving for 36 years.

Jimenez was also a Glen Cove City Councilman for over 14 years, during now-U.S. Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi’s terms as Glen Cove Mayor.

In addition to education, Jimenez wants to work with the Downtown Business Improvement District to get discounts at restaurants and businesses for veterans, as “a token of appreciation.”

“We are honored to have such a distinguished military veteran and accomplished public servant leading our Veterans Affairs office,” said Mayor Reggie

Spinello.

Jimenez is also working with Glen Cover Stan Zeitlan to create “living memorials” for World War II and Korean War veterans by setting up interviews with the veterans and their spouses/family members to be recorded and put on CDs. To tell your story for the living memorials contact the Glen Cove Veteran Affairs Office, (516) 759-6798, located on the second floor of Glen Cove’s City Hall, 9 Glen Street. The office is open on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursdays from 1 to 5 p.m.