He said saying goodbye to his family is always hard, but it’s part of the job. “No one ever gets really used to it,” he said of goodbyes, “but we kind of accept that it’s part of what our lives are in terms of being a Reserve [family].

“It’s tough, but Mary and Isabella are both pretty tough, tougher than I am, and they manage,” he added.

Grasso has taken a leave from his job as executive director of the Nassau County Bridge Authority, which oversees the Atlantic Beach Bridge. He was appointed to the Valley Stream village board in January 2010 by then-Mayor Ed Cahill to fill a vacancy. He retained his seat as part of the United Community Party ticket that swept the March 2011 village elections, running alongside Mayor Ed Fare, Trustee Dermond Thomas and Judge Robert Bogle.

On Feb. 20, he led a discussion at the Nassau County Democratic Headquarters in Carle Place where he talked about the country’s efforts in Afghanistan and issues like Afghani women’s rights and military spending. About 25 people were in attendance, including Assemblyman Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove) who presented Grasso with a citation.

His main objective in Afghanistan, Grasso said, is to train, advise and assist. “It’s really putting the Afghans in the lead,” he said. “We’re really there in a support role.”

Grasso is scheduled to travel back to Afghanistan on Friday and serve another three to four months. He plans on being home for his daughter’s elementary school graduation in June.

“It’ll be hard to go back,” he said, “but the flip side of that is it just makes coming home in a few more months that much more pleasant.”