Mount Sinai South Nassau salutes veterans for their service

Mount Sinai South Nassau held its annual Veterans Day celebration on Sept. 3 to express gratitude and appreciation for the valor and service of its employees and residents who have served in the US Armed Forces. The celebration was attended by hospital staff and administrators and local and state government officials.

The Mount Sinai South Nassau Veteran Employee Scholarship was awarded to hospital safety and security officer Oscar Torres Martinez of the US Army Reserves. Torres, 25 served four years of active duty in the U.S. Army after graduating from Freeport High School. The Freeport native attended Nassau Community College and is currently attending NYU, studying mechanical engineering.

“Once I got out of active duty I wanted to continue my service and continue my education, so I joined the Reserves and it’s been the best thing I’ve done,” said Torres. “I’ve always wanted to serve. I always had a dream to be in uniform. I feel like it just made the younger version of myself proud to join the army.”

Highlights of the celebration included New York State Senator Steve Rhoads’ announcement that the hospital’s director of security, Steve Biscotti, retired United States Navy Hospital Corpsman will be inducted into the New York State Veterans Hall of Fame. Biscotti served in the U.S Navy from 1979 to 1985.

“It’s a great honor,” said Biscotti. “ I get tremendous support from the hospital. It’s all about giving back to the community. Giving back to the veteran is and I loved doing it. Here at Mount Sinai, we’re doing something every day for Veterans.”

Mount Sinai South Nassau currently employs 48 Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. This ceremony is held annually by Mount Sinai South Nassau to honor and celebrate Veterans.

“I’ve got to credit Mount Sinai for taking the time to recognize their veterans and placing them front and center in everything that they do,” Rhoads said. “I’m proud to be honoring Steve Biscotti with the induction into the State Veterans Hall of Fame. He is a true example of what it means to be a veteran not only in his service during his time in the military, but in his veteran service after that time, making sure that other veterans are taken care of, making sure that our communities are taken care of and that’s really what it’s all about.”

“It’s incredible what they do at Mount Sinai and I’m just glad to be able to be a part of it,” said District 12 Legislator James Kennedy. “I’m going to be getting involved with different ways to help veterans because we can’t just it’s not just this time of year, but all times of the year. Throughout the year, we have to make sure that we are constantly staying on top of what our veterans need. Steven and all of those on the committee do so much to help our veterans and I just wanted to make sure that I stayed a part of that and I think it’s a fantastic thing that they do.”