Long Beach bridge to be renamed after war hero

When Ralph Madalena, of Rockville Centre, wrote to the Nassau County Legislature requesting that the Long Beach Bridge be re-named after his grandfather, Michael Valente — a World War I hero and Long Beach resident — he wasn’t sure if his request would fall on deaf ears.

So when he learned last July that the Long Beach Bridge would formally be renamed the “Michael Valente Memorial Bridge” in honor of Valente, he was ecstatic to hear the news.

“I was honored that the county would take this step to recognize my grandfather,” Madalena said. Nassau County Legislator Denise Ford (R-Long Beach) announced on Feb. 22 that the official renaming ceremony is scheduled to take place at Long Beach City Hall on March 25 at 11:00 a.m., where Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and members of Valente’s family to honor Valente’s memory will join her.

“Renaming a bridge after Mike Valente puts an important name and face on an important historical event,” Ford said.

Madalena said the idea for renaming the bridge came to him when he was driving over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge last spring when he was traveling to look for colleges for his daughter.

It was then, Madalena said, that he noticed a boulevard named after a priest, Father Vincent Capodanno, a Medal of Honor recipient who was killed in World War II.

“I said, ‘look at that.’ What if I looked into naming the Long Beach Bridge after my grandfather, since he was a Medal of Honor recipient,” Madalena said.

Now, he said, his family is happy that his idea is now a reality. “Everyone is happy and excited and very appreciative of the county and the city,” Madalena said. “The credit goes to Legislator Denise Ford. She jumped on it immediately.”

According to the release, Valente was born in Sant’ Apollinare, Italy, and emigrated to America when he was 18. He had been in the country only three years when he entered Company D of the New York National Guard. Valente’s regiment was activated during the American Campaign against Poncho Villa, but saw no action until Company D was absorbed into the 27th Infantry Division and sent overseas to fight in France with the British during World War I.

On Sept. 29, 1918, Valente’s unit — Company D of the 107th Regiment, 27th Infantry Division — suffered heavy casualties while assaulting the Hindenberg Line. He volunteered an attack on the machine gun nests pinning them down, and for his heroism, President Herbert Hoover presented Valente with the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest distinction that can be earned by a member of the armed forces. After a distinguished career, Valente died on Jan. 10, 1976. He was 80.

“It is our distinct honor to recognize and honor Long Beach’s Michael Valente who was a World War I hero and a recipient of the very prestigious Congressional Medal of Honor,” said County Executive Mangano in a statement. “It is only fitting that we honor our local hero for his distinguished and heroic service to our country.”

Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Beach), who will be the keynote speaker at the ceremony, said he and Valente were good friends for more than 30 years. Weisenberg described Valente as a humble individual, a man devoted to his community and country and someone who always made him smile.

“I knew Michael very well. I know his family very well,” Weisenberg said. “He was like John Wayne—only he was a strong, quiet, gentle man who loved his family and loved people.”

Ford, who said Valente is the only recipient of the Medal of Honor in Long Beach, is pleased that the bridge will be renamed after the beloved war hero. “We felt it would be a nice gesture to bring attention to the fact that there are people who go beyond the call of duty to protect their fellow servicemen and their country,” she said.

Ford said she hopes the ceremony draws a younger audience, so that children and teenagers can understand Valente’s contributions to his country.

“It’s something that’s long overdue,” Ford said. “We owe our freedom to someone like him.”

Weisenberg, who said he is grateful for the opportunity to be able to speak about someone whom he loved and admired, said the event would be a memorable one for Long Beach.

“He was a special person in my life. He was a great American hero,” Weisenberg said, noting that Valente was one of a kind. “He was a symbol. His love and respect for our community will always be remembered.”