As commander of the Jewish War Veterans Post 652 for nearly 15 years, Gary Glick of North Bellmore has made it his life’s work to support veterans and ensure their stories are remembered. At 75, his outreach in schools, museums and community organizations continues to preserve history while inspiring the next generation.
For his efforts to honor the past and confront modern challenges like antisemitism, the Bellmore Herald is proud to name Glick its 2024 Person of the Year.
Glick’s service in the military began at the age of 20, when he pursued a career in the U.S. Army in 1969 in response to the Vietnam War. He reached the rank of Specialist, 4th Class, working in stock control and accounting before taking up a new position on the other side of the world — but not in Vietnam.
Glick was transferred for a two-year term as a Chaplain’s Assistant in Munich, Germany. He worked with soldiers of all faiths and heard powerful life stories — an experience that motivates him today.
Once Glick’s time in the army was over, he returned to the states and met his wife, Fran Glick, and had two children — Brian Glick and Alyson Struck. His post-military career was troubleshooting for Gayle King Carr & Lynch Air Conditioning. He retired from that position at the age of 62 and has since dedicated his time to the JWV.
“I became a commander to help other people get their lives together, even when they're 75, 80, 90-years-old,” he said. “We're all working together to try and help each other.”
The Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America is the longest running veterans’ organization in the country. As a member, Glick meets local veterans, connects them with needed resources, participates in parades, and creates a welcoming community for service members. He takes pride in the camaraderie Post 652 offers.
“We're helping more and more people with PTSD,” Glick said. “Whatever I couldn't cover with the Veterans Affairs, we found a way of going past that and getting the person the help they need that they could actually stay in their homes and age in peace.”
Glick preserves the stories of veterans — some who are over 100 years old — by listening to them, reconnecting them with living relatives, and helping them live long and healthy lives.
“Many veterans came home, and they should not have been forgotten,” he said. “I feel that history does tell you things and we have a rich history here.”
Glick also works to help local synagogues reclaim forgotten monuments and reconnect families with the graves of their loved ones.
“These are forgotten heroes,” he said. “They could be your mother, your father, it could be your grandpa, it could be your relative — I'm just trying to get it out there.”
Glick worked with other community organizations and religious institutions, fellow JWV posts, and the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center in Glen Cove. His interest in historical education outreach features tragedies such as the Holocaust and Kristallnacht, as well as American military history.
“Everybody's forgotten what happened during the war,” Glick said. “If you don't know history, you're bound to repeat it over and over again.”
Glick and his fellow members of the JWV frequently visit schools to educate students about the sacrifices and contributions of veterans.
“Once a year we go to the schools on Veterans Day or Memorial Day,” he explained. “We want to teach these kids about Vietnam, because they don’t know about what happened before Vietnam. I told them about what I did when I was younger, and all the things that I went through, and about other people that I've learned about (because of) the Holocaust.”
Drawing from his experiences in the military, Glick emphasizes the importance of teamwork and shared humanity as a way to combat discrimination.
“The army changed me so much when I was in there,” he said. “As a veteran of the service, you're taught to work as a team and in the army, with any range of people, most of the guys that come out of it would say the same thing: All bleed red. That is the truth.”
Even though Glick’s work primarily focuses on veteran affairs, he is also fiercely outspoken against antisemitism. Through his leadership in the Jewish War Veterans and community advocacy, Glick has worked tirelessly to combat hatred and ensure future generations understand the importance of tolerance and acceptance.
Whether addressing students in classrooms or speaking at community events, Glick’s commitment to justice and education reflects his deep sense of duty to both his country and his Jewish heritage.
“He’s got such a heart for people to understand the reality of what we’re living with,” said Berta Weinstein, who runs the civic association in Merrick, which has frequently collaborated with the Jewish War Veterans on initiatives. “People cannot forget about what happened in the past, because if you forget about the past, it repeats itself and that is why he’s trying to educate everyone — and we couldn’t have a better person to educate people, he’s just so fantastic.”
Noting on Glick's history of helping people from diverse backgrounds during the war, Weinstein said that it has shaped the person he is today “He’s done so much to help people, and he’s learned so much from different types of people,” she said, “and that learning helps him share what he shares with everyone.”
Community groups and community leaders are quick to stand with the Jewish War Veterans because of Glick and his leadership, according to Joe Baker, who’s done extensive community work with Glick throughout his tenure.
“He’s a great guy,” he said, “and anytime he calls me, I am always there behind him. He’s a good guy, and he’s very dedicated to his religion and his cause.”
No matter what the person or their background, Glick is always willing to help people, Weinstein said.
“He supports everybody,” she said, “and he is there for everyone.”
Additional reporting by Jordan Vallone