Community News

Merricks mark Veterans Day

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Veterans, elected leaders, firefighters and Boy Scouts circled around a lectern at Veterans Memorial Park in North Merrick on Tuesday to salute America’s veterans. In a brief, but emotional ceremony, the crowd of about 50 marked Veterans Day on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

Veterans Day was first celebrated as Armistice Day on Nov. 11, 1919, as a way to remember the end of Word War I. (Hostilities in what was then the world’s largest armed conflict ceased on Nov. 11, 1918, at 11 a.m.) President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day. In 1953, the celebration was renamed Veterans Day to recognize the sacrifices of all members of U.S. armed forces.Merrick American Legion Post 1282 Commander Kenneth Braun led Tuesday’s ceremony. Braun recognized the late Walter Ellensohn, the legion’s former monument chairman, who maintained the property for many years.

Veteran Joseph Ambrosino, a member of Post 1282, rang a silver bell 11 times to mark Veterans Day, while Jack Silverman of North Merrick played taps.