Thursday, October 1, 2026
I believe I can safely say that spring is finally here. As you’re out and about, take time to notice the beauty of our city, especially at this time of year. Properties are greening up and flowers are blooming everywhere.
Glen Cove is celebrating many successes. We have received notice that we are ranked the third-safest city in the state of New York, with crime rates significantly below the state average. This reflects the strong partnership between our Police Department and our residents. Congratulations to the men and women of our fabulous department.
In addition, Glen Cove has been recognized by the Long Island Marine Corps League Long Island Area as the first Mental Health Advocate City in the nation. We received this award at a very poignant ceremony in City Hall chambers. Attendees were joined by the Long Island Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Veterans Council of Glen Cove, and an SAR flag family.
U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Joe Moores and Howard Stilwagon, Commander of VFW Post 347, were recognized for their service and veteran advocacy. Just a note: Both are lifelong Glen Covers. We are pleased that our love for and dedication to our veterans was recognized. Whenever you see a veteran, take the time to thank them for their service. They have given so much of themselves to guarantee the freedoms we all appreciate.
As we celebrate the 250th birthday of the nation, the Memorial Day Parade committee is hard at work. This year, as we remember our war dead at our Memorial Day festivities, we honor John “Jack” Niles McCarthy, a young man who gave his life for his country.
McCarthy made a sacrifice that still feels impossible to measure. He was barely out of high school when he volunteered for the U.S. Army in 1969. He served as an infantry indirect fire crewman with A Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry, 196th Light Infantry Brigade — a role that placed him directly in the harshest realities of the Vietnam War.
Jack was just 20 years old when he was killed in action on May 24, 1969, in Quang Tin Province, South Vietnam. In the short time he served, he earned a Purple Heart, a Combat Infantryman Badge, a National Defense Service Medal, a Vietnam Service Medal and a Vietnam Campaign Medal. Those honors speak to what he faced, but they don’t fully capture the young man behind them.
What stays with us is the person McCarthy was — a son, a friend, a neighbor whose future should have stretched far beyond that year. His loss is part of Glen Cove’s story, woven into the lives of the people who knew him and the community that continues to honor him. His name reminds us that freedom carries a cost, and that every inscription on a memorial belongs to someone who once laughed, hoped, planned and dreamed.
This Memorial Day will carry special meaning for many in our community as we also remember Anthony “Tony” Jimenez — a decorated Vietnam veteran, former Glen Cove city councilman, EMS chief, director of veterans affairs, and someone whose entire life was shaped by helping others. Jimenez spent decades looking out for veterans, supporting our residents, and stepping in whenever someone needed him. Through his military service, his years as an EMT, his leadership in the American Legion and other veterans groups, and the many quiet things he did without any expectation of recognition, Tony showed us what genuine service looks like.
People knew Jimenez as someone who always put others first. He made sure veterans were never forgotten, and he made sure anyone who was struggling had someone they could turn to. His kindness, his steady presence, and his commitment to this community leave a legacy that will stay with Glen Cove for a long time.
As we come together this Memorial Day, let’s remember all who served and all who never came home. And let’s honor them not only with ceremonies and parades, but by carrying forward the gratitude, compassion and respect that shaped their service and shaped the lives of both McCarthy and Jimenez in ways this community will never forget.
Pamela Panzenbeck is the mayor of Glen Cove.
