Citizens honored for protecting Malverne

True Americanism, and the sacrifices first responders make to serve the community, is what Ed Howard, vice commander of American Legion Post 44 in Malverne, spoke about at the legion’s annual Law & Order Night on Feb. 26. Families and local elected leaders gathered at Legion Hall as the post recognized people who help keep the village safe.

“They’re men and women who go out on the call every day,” Howard said of the honorees. “But they go out every day never worrying about their own personal safety. They’re dedicated to helping others.”

Among the honorees were members of the village Volunteer Police Department, Police Reserves, Fire Department, Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Boy Scouts. Many of the honorees were accompanied by colleagues who cheered them on from the back of Legion Hall.

First Deputy Chief Ernest Bohringer, of the Fire Department, was honored for his heroics during a fire at a Valley Stream delicatessen last March. Police reported the fire early in the morning of March 3, and Bohringer was on his way home from his shift at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey when he heard the dispatch from the Valley Stream Fire Department. He and Nassau County police officers forced open a locked door at the back of the building, where they found a person inside, who was pulled to safety and taken to a nearby hospital. The fire left the deli, on West Merrick Road, gutted.

“Like I said before back when this incident happened, I truly believe any member of the Malverne Fire Department would’ve taken the same exact actions being in that circumstance,” Bohringer said. “Thankfully, I was in the right place at the right time, and we had a good outcome.”

Officer Thomas Smith, of the Police Department, was another honoree. Smith, a lifelong Malvernite who has been a member of the department for 20 years, was recognized for helping residents with quality-of-life issues such as street light outages and roadway conditions. He also patrols more than 100 miles around the village during his 12-hour shifts.

“Being an ex-chief of [the] Mineola [Fire Department], I fully appreciate the sacrifices of community volunteers,” said Deputy County Clerk Jeff Clark, who handed out citations on behalf of County Clerk Maureen O’Connell. “I have two sons serving in the U.S. Air Force, and fully appreciate the service to our country, so I’m proud to stand here and to honor these great members of your community.”

Younger honorees, such as Police Reserve Officer Darren Tso and Volunteer Ambulance Corps EMT Victoria Lora, were recognized for their volunteerism. Tso, who is studying criminal justice at Farmingdale State College, received two citations from the police reserve for exemplary service — more than 50 tours in a year. Lora, who is studying biology at St. John’s University, became an EMT in 2018, following in the footsteps of her father, Luis Lora, a past president of the ambulance corps. She was honored for being one of the ambulance corps’ most active members. She responded to 91 calls in 2018, the highest total for any member that year. Last year she completed 52 duty tours, which is equivalent to 624 hours of service, also the highest total.

At the end of the ceremony, the American Legion unveiled the Wall of Honor, which honors past members. Ladies Auxiliary President Dr. Carol Hassett said the wall was among the renovations at Legion Hall that the village board had helped to fund.

“Our village board has always been very kind to us,” Hassett said. “Thanks to their generous donations, we finally have the wall ready.”