The Town of Huntington honored fallen American servicemembers at Huntington Town Hall, Sunday, May 30, 2021 in commemoration of Memorial Day.
Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci and Councilmembers Mark Cuthbertson, Eugene Cook, Joan Cergol, and Ed Smyth, Receiver of Taxes Jillian Guthman, and Veterans Advisory Board Chairman Bill Ober and members represented the Town of Huntington at the ceremony. New York State Senators Jim Gaughran and Mario Mattera attended the ceremony. Captain Michelle Mudge, Active Duty UH-60M Black Hawk Pilot in the 3-142 Assault Helicopter Battalion, NY Army National Guard and Chief Officer John Lowell, United States Coast Guard attended the ceremony.
Wreaths were placed to honor fallen service members from World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Women Veterans and the Middle East; Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. The ceremony was emceed by Veterans Advisory Board Chairman Bill Ober and featured live patriotic music performed by Anne Marie Marcantonio, Soloist/Cantor from the Church of St. Patrick in Huntington, bugler John Schnepp from Elwood/Commack VFW Post #9263, piper John Martin from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Monsignor Steven Camp from the Church of St. Patrick delivered the invocation and benediction.
Veterans Advisory Board Liaison to the Supervisor, Paul Kelly, delivered a remembrance and the ceremony honored late Huntington Veterans Advisory Board Vice Chairman Fred Amore, who passed away in February 2021. Fred Amore served as Commander of Elwood/Commack VFW #9263 for 20 years and as a member of the Veterans Advisory Board for 15 years.
A POW/MIA Chair of Honor was on display honoring American servicemen and women who are prisoners of war or missing in action. Dr. Cynthia Paulis, a veteran herself, donated the chair to Gold Star Mother Charlee Miller, Executive Director of the Art League of Huntington, in memory of Ms. Miller’s son, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph J. Fenty, Jr., who lost his life 15 years ago on May 5, 2006 in Afghanistan. The significance of the chair is to represent the men and women who served our country but have not returned home to us.
Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci presented flowers to Gold Star Mothers Connie Mangano and Charlee M. Miller, whose sons made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, each in Afghanistan: Sgt. Anthony L. Mangano, KIA 2008 and Lt. Colonel Joseph J. Fenty, Jr., KIA 2006, as well as Pat Amore, wife of Fred Amore.
Veterans organizations represented at the ceremony included Elwood/Commack VFW Post #9263, Commander John Carvajal; Nathan Hale VFW Post #1469, Commander Gary Steinmueller; Greenlawn American Legion Post #1244, Commander Donna Boyle; Huntington American Legion Post #360, Commander Andrew Brady; Northport American Legion Post #694, Commander William McKenna; Jewish War Veterans Post #488, Commander Harry Arlin; Navy Seabee Veterans of America, Commander Anthony Mastroianni; Combat Infantrymen's Association, Commander Bruce Brenner; and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 19, Commander Philip Rhoads.
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