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Light Rain The Merricks honor veterans
Drivers honked their horns and rolled down their windows to cheer the veterans gathered at Veterans Memorial Park on Nov. 11, when Merrick American Legion Post 1282 hosted its annual Veterans Day ceremony.
“And now, here on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month marks the end of the first World War,” said American Legion Commander Kenneth Braun. “We will ring the victory bell 11 times, followed by a moment of silence.”
All heads bowed, followed by a sing-a-long of the national anthem. All American Legion members removed their caps, and attendees placed their hands over their hearts and thanked the veterans on hand. New York State Assemblyman David McDonough then took the lectern to thank the veterans for their service.
“The community has helped tremendously to give back to our veterans,” McDonough said. “In fact, just last week a veteran was given a brand-new home just two blocks from this park as part of Building Homes for Heroes.” McDonough was speaking of Cpl. Kevin Vaughan, a Marine who was severely wounded in Afghanistan in 2011. Vaughan received a mortgage-free home on Little Whaleneck Road.
American Legion member Bob Dishman walked through the memorials in the park, speaking fondly of each one. “This stone here has all the names of the fallen soldiers from Merrick,” he said, pointing to a memorial erected by the American Legion Post 1282, titled, “The Merricks, Those Who Have Made the Supreme Sacrifice For Our Country.” It includes 22 names from World War II, 15 from the Vietnam War, three from the Korean War and one from the Iraq war. “That’s too many names already,” Dishman said.
He enlisted in the Marines in 1966 amid the Vietnam War. “I wanted to help out as much as I could, but like everybody else, I was scared,” he said. Dishman said he never went overseas, but he knew many who did and never returned.
As Dishman walked through the memorial, a car slowed down, honked, and a female passenger yelled, “Thank you sir, truly, thank you for your service.” Dishman waved and thanked the stranger for her kind words.
