Friday, January 17, 2025
By Taylor Grayson
Greg Waxman has been inspiring residents of Malverne for a number of years now. The “Patriot Man” went viral during the coronavirus pandemic, before many people knew who he was.
He ran with an American flag, to honor the country’s veterans, but he never did it for the recognition. To him it just felt right.
Waxman, 42, is an educator, a community organizer and an avid runner. His efforts to support veterans, first responders and local organizations with events like the Freedom 5K and the Strongman and Strongwoman Competition have raised thousands of dollars and inspired community pride.
For all that he has done and continues to do, the Herald is proud to name Waxman its 2024 Person of the Year.
His signature event, the Freedom 5K, began as a personal challenge in May 2022, after he ran 50 miles around Malverne to raise money for veterans and first responders. Inspired by his participation in the Suffolk County Veterans Run Series, he wanted to create something closer to home.
“I used to run 50 miles to honor Lt. Michael Murphy, from Manhattan to Suffolk,” Waxman said, referring to the Navy SEAL from Smithtown who died in Afghanistan in 2005. “I wanted to bring that spirit to Nassau County and Malverne.”
Initially called the Freedom on the Farm 5K and held at Crossroads Farm at Grossman’s, the race evolved this year into the Memorial Day Freedom 5K, and followed the route of the village’s Memorial Day Parade.
Over 200 runners have taken part each year, and the money the event has raised has benefited the Detective Steven McDonald Foundation, Malverne Police Benevolent Association scholarships for high school seniors, and Crossroads Farm preservation.
This year, Waxman distributed over $16,000 in donations, including $7,000 to American Legion Post 44 for a service dog program. Other beneficiaries included Paws of War, American VetDogs, and Crossroads. Transparency is key to his efforts, he said: Funds are handed out at village board meetings.
“People can see where the money goes, which builds trust,” he explained.
A strong community presence
Waxman’s Strongman and Strongwoman competition, launched this year, is another testament to his creativity and commitment.
Held at Crossroads Farm, the event featured farm-inspired challenges such as hay tosses, tire flips and tractor pulls. Proceeds supported the farm, one of the last remaining operating farms in Nassau County.
“We wanted to combine fresh air and fitness while raising awareness about the farm,” Waxman said.
Although the turnout was modest, he plans to expand the event in the future. “Now that people know what it is,” he said, “we’re optimistic about drawing a bigger crowd.”
His dedication to giving back stems from his personal connections with veterans and first responders. His grandfather, a World War II veteran, inspired him to support service dog programs, while other family members’ service in the New York City Police Department instilled a deep respect for law enforcement.
During the pandemic, Waxman gained local recognition for running through Malverne with an American flag, doing his part to lift the community’s spirits.
“It was my way of honoring veterans and first responders during a tough time,” he said. “To move forward, you need to give back.”
Billy Richards, a 43-year-old Marine who also runs with a flag, was Waxman’s inspiration. The two met in 2018, at 50 Miles for Murph, the run from Manhattan to Lake Ronkonkoma that honors Murphy. This year alone, Richards has run with a flag 111 times.
“I see him at races all the time,” he said of Waxman. “We’ve run a bunch of races together. The most recent one was probably a month or so ago.”
A legacy of giving
Waxman has raised over $23,000 for charitable causes since 2022. When he’s not running or organizing events, he is tutoring full time, instilling the values of community service in the next generation.
His tutoring business is a shared endeavor with his mother, Lois Waxman, who is in her 70s. Greg attended Hofstra University after graduating from West Hempstead High School.
“I love words, and we love playing around with them,” Lois said. “The SATs are changing, so everything’s online. We had to redo our whole program, so we’re all learning at this higher level. So Greg comes over every day and I focus on math. He’s better with the verbal part of it.”
She finds it funny that her son is good with words now, because she described him as a somewhat meek kid growing up.
“He was very shy as a kid, and he was always very good in sports,” Lois recalled. “He was an excellent soccer player. A week before Greg’s bar mitzvah, I got a call that he broke his leg at a game. It was rough, and he had to be in a wheelchair going back to middle school. He went to physical therapy and started lifting weights. After that, he got into running.”
It was that comeback that paved the way for Waxman’s future as flag-carrying fixture on the roads of Malverne and beyond.
“I run anyway, so why not put in a little extra effort to help others?” he said. His wife, Jennifer, and their daughter, Rachel, 7, are proud supporters of his endeavors.
The Freedom 5K and Waxman’s related philanthropy have made him a familiar face to many in the village.
The Patriot Man keeps putting in the miles, and giving back to the community.
