On Friday, November 8th, the Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook University held a ceremony in honor of Veterans Day. The keynote speaker of the event was Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon, who is a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran. Remarks were given by Robert Smith, U.S. Navy Veteran and Chairman of the Long Island State Veterans Home Governing body, Peter Igarashi, M.D., Dean of the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook who also serves on the Long Island State Veterans Home Governing Body, and Ed Romaine, the Suffolk County Executive.
Numerous other elected officials attended the event, including but not limited to Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy, Suffolk County Comptroller John M. Kennedy, New York State Assemblyman Doug Smith, and New York State Senator Mario Mattera.
While the purpose of the event is to honor all veterans, each year an individual is awarded with the Long Island State Veterans Home Distinguished Service Award. This year, John LaSpina, President of the Maple Family Bowling Centers, was given this award. Fred S. Sganga, the Executive Director of Long Island State Veterans Home was the presenter of this award.
The Color Guard was comprised of the Vietnam Veterans of America, of Suffolk County Chapter 11, PFC Garfield M. Langhorn (MOH) Chapter.
Musician John Ciotta performed multiple times throughout the event, playing the National Anthem, America the Beautiful, and God Bless America.
Multiple local religious leaders attended the event, with Father Anthony DiLorenzo, a Protestant Chaplain who led the invocation, Father Thomas Tuite, a Catholic Chaplain who led the Veteran’s Prayer, and Rabbi Joseph Topek, a Jewish Chaplain who led the benediction.
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