Wantagh Legion honors Veterans Day

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Veterans and their families all over the U.S. gather annually on Nov. 11 to remember their loved ones who served their country.

This year, the Wantagh American Legion gathered for a ceremony to honor those who served in the military, as well as celebrating the 100th anniversary of Veterans Day.

The ceremony started at 10:40 a.m. on Nov. 11 with the color guard presenting the colors. After the color guard presentation occurred, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited, followed by the invocation given by Legion Chaplain Tom Fitzsimmons, and a speech from Assemblyman Dave McDonough.

At 11:00 a.m. the bell was rung 11 times to commemorate the World War I armistice that went into effect at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918. After the bell was rung, the Wantagh American Legion Pipe Band played Amazing Grace and the color guard preformed a rifle salute. Wantagh Boy Scout James Seaman played taps before Fitzsimmons gave the benediction and DiBitetto ended the ceremony with his closing remarks.

DiBitetto said more than 100 people showed up to the ceremony. One wife of the Legion’s members who passed away attended the ceremony and was happy to be there in remembrance of her husband, according to DiBitetto.

Veterans Day, and all the holidays, are commercialized DiBitetto said. He was unhappy at the way holidays overlapped one another an wished each could be allowed its own time. He believes people should take time to honor the holidays, including Veterans Day.

DiBitetto served in the Army from 1968 to 1970. He was an administrative clerk for the United States Strike Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.

“It was a nice experience,” he said. “I was proud to serve my country. Would I do it again? Yeah.”

Julius Harris of the Wantagh post explained that the day was originally called Armistice Day until it was changed to Veterans Day after World War II.

Harris, an Army, veteran was in the army from1954 to 1956. He was stationed on an anti-air craft artillery around Philadelphia at the peak of the Cold War. He was also a radio operator.

“At that time, that’s what every man was expected to do,” he said. “I wouldn’t take a million dollars for it, but it was a great experience.”

John Menechino, past commander and current trustee of the Wantagh post, served in the Navy during the mid 60s. Between 1966 and 1967 he served as a plane captain aboard an aircraft carrier. He was assigned to a task squadron where he was responsible for the maintenance of the planes.

Menechino said hi ship responded to the USS Liberty that was attacked by the Israelis in 1967.

Menechino said in retrospect his time in the Navy was a good experience, even though he did not like it at the time. “At the time, when you are 18 years old you want to go home,” he said. “You hate it.”

In contrast to Menechino’s experience, Jonathan Hernandez, a recent vet, said he loved his experience in the navy. Hernandez joined in 2003 and went to Nuclear Engineering school for around a year in South Carolina after finishing boot camp. He was then stationed aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise for six years and two deployments. He was then billeted in Lake Hurst, N.J., for two years before being discharged in 2011.

Hernandez works for Northrop Grumman now but said he is trying to go back into the military. He hopes to get into the Army National guard.

Post Treasurer Raymond Cody spent four years in the Navy during the Vietnam War era, from April 1961 to April 1965. The 76-year-old finished as a petty officer second class and worked as a disbursing clerk aboard the U.S.S. Noa and the U.S.S. Harwood.

Naval service runs in Cody’s family. He said he spent a lot of time in Europe during his time in the Navy, as well as some time in Djibouti and Yemen, as well as cruising the Mediterranean and the North Atlantic.

The Legion does not normally rent out their hall on Veterans Day out of respect for the veterans, Cody said, and he thanked all veterans for their service. “If it wasn’t for the veterans we wouldn’t’ be here,” he said.