A record 193 runners gathered at Baldwin Harbor Park on Oct. 17 for Run for Heroes, an annual 5K race bringing South Shore communities together to honor military veterans and raise funds for local veterans’ posts. The turnout surpassed last year’s 178 participants, according to organizer Thomas Ryan.
The race is managed by Ryan and Paul Casazza, both members of American Legion Post 303 in Rockville Centre, in partnership with four other veterans’ organizations: VFW Post 3550 in East Rockaway, American Legion Post 342 in Freeport, American Legion Post 335 in Lynbrook and American Legion Post 44 in Malverne.
The event, which has been held for at least six years, was started by former Assemblyman Brian Curran. Post 303 took the lead in coordinating the race in 2024, though representatives from all five participating posts serve on a committee that votes on race-related decisions.
Ryan, an Air Force veteran who served in Vietnam from May 1968 to May 1969, has helped coordinate the race since 2024. Casazza is an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan.
“The ‘Run for Heroes’ is important for two reasons,” Ryan said. “It affords the communities of Baldwin, East Rockaway, Freeport, Lynbrook, Malverne and Rockville Centre to demonstrate their support for the men and women who ‘answered the call,’ and it enables the participating posts to raise funds that go directly to helping veterans who are less fortunate than ourselves.”
The 5K course began near the tennis courts at Baldwin Harbor Park, with racers running along a marked route that included Grand Avenue. Runners had to complete two laps to finish the race. Organizers also expanded the award categories this year to recognize competitors across more age groups, from those 16 and younger to participants 80 and older. Winners were recognized in every category except the women’s 80-and-older division.
Crystal Hightower, 40, took first place in the women’s overall competition, while 11-year-old Patrick Gray won the men’s overall title. Gray traveled from Ooltewah, Tennessee, to participate in the race in honor of his great-uncle, U.S Navy Cmdr. Patrick Dunn, who died in the Pentagon during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The first-place winners in the remaining age categories included Cristel Requena and Kevin Valdz in the 16-and-under divisions; Abigail Hassett and Alex Guglielmo in the 17-29 divisions; Lauren Palazzolo and John Lawlor in the 30-39 divisions; Krisa Allegro and David Putterman in the 40-49 divisions; Karen Jones and Emilio Izzo in the 50-59 divisions; Deidre Bambrick-Oriani and Antonio Diaz in the 60-70 divisions; and Janice Matthews and John Madson in the 71-79 divisions. Domenick Amendola was the first-place finisher in the men’s 80-and-older division.
Each participating post solicits its own sponsors and recruits runners to help raise funds for veterans and their families. Among the organizations the American Legion and VFW Posts support, according to Ryan, are Tunnel to Towers, the 106th Air National Guard Rescue Wing, America’s Vet Dogs, the American Legion Legacy Fund, Fisher House, Honor and Remember the Fallen, Independence Fund, Marine LE Foundation, Nassau County Veterans Service Agency, Nassau County American Legion Comfort Warriors, NCAL National Emergency Fund, Northport VA, Pal-O-Mine Equestrian, Paws of War and the Semper Fi Fund.
