L.B. Bridge renamed after WWI veteran

“Many cultures believe that you never die as long as you are remembered, and people like my grandfather live on,” Rockville Centre resident Ralph Madalena said of his late grandfather, Michael Valente, a World War I hero and Long Beach resident.

On March 25 at Long Beach City Hall, Madalena, his wife, Francesca Capitano, and daughter, Kathryn Madalena, along with other family members, were joined by officials including Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, Legislator Denise Ford and City Manager Charles Theofan for a ceremony to rename the Long Beach Bridge in honor of Valente, Long Beach’s only recipient of the prestigious Medal of Honor.

Hundreds turned out for the ceremony, packing the sixth-floor chambers to see the bridge officially renamed the Michael Valente Memorial Long Beach Bridge. The crowd included Long Beach students as well as members of local and national veterans groups.

“Through the efforts of our county executive, Edward Mangano, we made sure that this was expedited … and that we were able to rename our bridge,” Ford said. “We are very, very honored.” She later said of Valente, “He put himself in great danger to save so many.”

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 joined Company D of the New York National Guard. His regiment was activated during the American campaign against the Mexican Revolutionary general Pancho 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 in World War I.

On Sept. 29, 1918, Valente’s unit — Company D of the 107th Regiment, 27th Infantry — suffered heavy casualties while assaulting the Hindenberg Line. Valente volunteered to lead an attack on the machine gun nests pinning them down.

For his heroism, he was awarded the Medal of Honor — the highest distinction that can be earned by a member of the armed forces — by President Herbert Hoover on the lawn of the White House on Sept. 27, 1929. Valente died on Jan. 10, 1976, at age 80.

Those who spoke at the renaming ceremony described him as a beloved and courageous war hero, a family and countryman and a prominent member of the Long Beach community. Weisenberg, one of several speakers, said he and Valente were longtime friends, and described him as an honorable man who was devoted to his community and his country.

“When I think of Michael Valente … I remember this giant of a man,” Weisenberg said. “… He was like a John Wayne, only quiet. He was giving, he was loving, and he was a model.”

Joe Sciame, past national president of Order Sons of Italy in America, said the ceremony was a proud day for Italian Americans as well as the children of Long Beach. “Every time they go over that bridge, they’re going to see the name of a man who expressed valor,” Sciame said. “[He] was an immigrant who came to this country, worked hard, fought in the war … but he was a hero.”

Madalena wrote to the Nassau County Legislature, requesting that the bridge be renamed after Valente, after the idea came to him when he was driving last spring. He said he noticed a boulevard named after a priest, Father Vincent Capodanno, a Medal of Honor recipient who was killed in World War II. Last July, the Legislature approved the bridge renaming.

Theofan asked the audience not to lose sight of the symbolism of a bridge. “A bridge takes us to another place,” he said. “Let us hope and pray that one day, mankind will take a bridge to a better place where peace between nations will rule the day.”

The ceremony concluded with the unveiling of a new bridge sign and a 21-gun salute outside City Hall. Afterward, members of Valente’s family expressed their gratitude. “I thought it was very well done,” said Robert Madalena, Ralph’s cousin, who had traveled from San Jose, Calif., adding that the family was extremely proud to have been on hand.

Another of Ralph’s cousins, Tom Madalena, who had come from Morgan Hill, Calif., said the family was truly moved. “We were quite overwhelmed,” he said. “We were pretty impressed with the turnout here today.”

Ralph praised the County Legislature for making his idea a reality, and said that he and his family would forever treasure the event. “It was much more than I had envisioned,” he said. “It was really terrific. It was beyond my wildest dreams.”

Comments about this story? CEngelhardt@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 207.