At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the war to end all wars, World War I was declared over. That day became to be known as Armistice Day. In 1954, the day became Veterans Day, a day to remember all military veterans. Memorial Day commemorates all the soldiers who died in service of their country.
In Cedarhurst, the Lawrence-Cedarhurst American Legion Post 339 marked the day with a ceremony that was held inside Village Hall because of the wintry temperature. Commander Syd Mandelbaum and post’s members not only remembered the veterans but also honored seven post members who died. Their names are inscribed on bricks that will be installed in the military memorial area of Andrew J. Parise Cedarhurst Park.
Members of John Oliveri Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1582, gathered at the memorial outside their headquarters in Inwood. Commander Frank Santora noted that Veterans Day is a time for all Americans to be proud and play a role in maintaining “a freedom that is not free.” “We must pick them up when they are down and carry them when they are weary,” he said, about caring for today’s veterans.
Luke Magliaro, a past post commander and vice commander for the Nassau County Council VFW, read a prayer and said: “As we stand united in comradeship, let us continue on, true to what we are all about.”
