Merricks pay homage to veterans

The Merricks marked Veterans Day on Thursday with a solemn ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park in North Merrick, with dozens of North Merrick firefighters, Boy Scouts and members of Merrick American Legion Post. No. 1282 attending to pay homage to the men and women of America's armed forces.

American Legion Commander Bernard Hoffman, a Korean War veteran, noted that the U.S. is "once again a nation engaged in battle," fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.The troops must not be forgotten, Hoffman said. Vice Commander Al Garbarino, an Iraq War veteran, and past commanders Tom Riordan and Vince Gabrielle spoke as well.

Nassau County Legislator David Denenberg and State Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr., both Merrick residents, attended the ceremony to offer their thanks to veterans. "We're just so proud to salute our veterans," Fuschillo said.

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.