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Light Rain Rockville Centre remembers its veterans
About 60 people, many of them former service members, attended the American Legion’s Veterans Day ceremony at the Recreation Center on Nov. 11.
The Rockville Centre Fire Department and American Legion color guard started the ceremony by marching the flags into the center’s auditorium, which was lined by village police officers.
Joseph Scarrola, commander of American Legion Post 303, started the ceremony by offering a blessing. “We are here to remember the many sacrifices made for us,” he said. “May this ceremony today be a worthy acknowledgement of those sacrifices.”
Scarrola pointed out several notable people in the audience, including Korean War veteran and State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame member Daniel Brandi, State Assemblyman Brian Curran, Village Trustees Nancy Howard and Edward Oppenheimer, Village Administrator Keith Spadaro and Police Commissioner Charles Gennario.
“Let us never forget Veterans Day,” said Mayor Francis X. Murray. “Let us encourage our children, the future of our nation, to commemorate those who have served our country. Currently, the contributions of our veterans are vital to maintaining the freedoms and the way of life enjoyed by the people of the United States. Let us remember the sacrifices being made this very day by all those currently on active duty in hostile territories. Today we offer our sincere appreciation and respect to our veterans, to their families, to those who are still in harm’s way, and to those who have been laid to rest.”
Murray noted the service of members of his own family, including his father, former Mayor Gene Murray, a World War II veteran who attended the ceremony.
Scarrola told a joke his grandson told him: “A solider who survives mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.” Some in the crowd chuckled, while others groaned. Scarrola said the joke was “so bad it was good.”
The tone turned serious as he discussed the service of military veterans. “The rights, freedoms, safety and security given to us that we enjoy today do not come freely,” Scarrola said. “And they were not given to us by politicians. They were earned for us by the men and women who put on the uniform of the United States military. And sometimes we take those rights, freedoms and security for granted. We are here today to say, ‘Today, we do not take that for granted.’”
A bell rang, commemorating the end of World War I, and there was a moment of silence. Scarrola offered a benediction, and the ceremony ended with the singing of “God Bless America,” led by Joe Brunetta. Scarrola invited the crowd back to the American Legion post, on Maple Avenue, for refreshments.
