Village honors veterans with student performers

Residents packed the Valley Stream Community Center for the village’s Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11, which featured special performances by students from the Valley Stream Central High School District’s performing arts program.

“On this Veterans Day, many words of patriotism, loyalty and pride come to mind,” said Mayor Ed Fare. “But the word that dominates my thoughts, and I’m sure many of your thoughts today, is gratitude. In times of turmoil, the eyes of the nation look to our heroes not as we would a celebrity, athlete or other famous person, but as a symbol of our very essence: strong, true and bold. The world’s a dangerous place now — it has been throughout history — but our brave military heroes continue to answer the call just as those before them did in the Pacific, Europe, Africa, Asia, Korea, Vietnam and Southeast Asia, throughout the Middle East and all around the world.”

Fare asked all veterans present to stand and be recognized, and made mention of one who was not present. “As is the case every year, there are veterans who stood with us in the first three years of our ceremony who aren’t standing with us today,” he said. “My good friend Jim Buckley, who I considered a father figure, stood every year with us here, and this is the first year I don’t see him in the front row —” his voice broke as he spoke about the former Historical Society president who died in August, at 92 “— Jim symbolizes every veteran who served for this country, and for that I’m very grateful.”

Air Force veteran Jack Sharkey led the Pledge of Allegiance and Annie Fitzgerald sang the national anthem. The Rev. Steven Milazzo, of the Bethlehem Assembly of God, delivered the invocation.

Performing arts students from the district’s four schools presented seven performances that included singing, dancing and acting. Each routine had a military theme, from World War II-era swing music to the St. Crispin’s Day speech from William Shakespeare’s “Henry V.”

The ceremony concluded with U.S. Army veteran Victor Latorre playing taps.