New veteran flag bonds the past and future

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There was a large gathering at the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Triangle in Oyster Bay on Veterans Day. They stood near the statue of President Theodore Roosevelt on his horse, which was placed there in 2010, as was a plaque to recognize all service members. The American flag and the POI MIA flag furled at the top of a flagpole and the Town of Oyster Bay and American Legion Quentin Roosevelt Post 4’s flags were positioned on a crossbar below. That was about to change.

The crowd surrounding the flagpole were there to witness the lowering of the town’s flag which would be replaced by a new flag representing and honoring AMVETS Post 21, which formed two years ago in Oyster Bay.

Town Councilwoman elect Vicki Walsh and Town Clerk elect Richard LaMarca attended the ceremony on behalf of Supervisor Joseph Saladino who supported the taking down of the town flag.

The ceremony was officiated by Reginald Butt, the American Legion past district commander. Quentin Roosevelt Post 4 was founded in 1919, he said, and named after President Theodore Roosevelt’s youngest son, Quentin, who was killed in action during WWI. At the end of the war, Theodore Roosevelt Jr. gathered a group of soldiers together to form the American Legion. An original member of Post 4, he became its commander in 1938.

Two years ago, an additional post was formed — AMVETS Post 21, to accommodate Cold War veterans, attracting 80 veterans. To recognize and honor those veterans, Oyster Bay Post 21 Commander Richard DeJesu said, “We thought it would be nice to have a flag.”

And so, it happened on Veterans Day. It was also Post 4’s 100th anniversary.

“Oyster Bay AMVETS Post 21 received the national charter in 2017,” Butt said. “Since then, we have heeded to our mission of service to our members, our veterans and our community. It is an honor for us to raise our AMVETS flag here on Veterans Day, next to Post 4. It is our hope that we can continue to work together to support and benefit our brother and sister veterans.”

Then, Joe Oliveri, the adjutant for Post 4 and Alex Gallego, the finance officer for AMVETS Post 21, raised their flags in unison.

Christian Taylor, a ten-year-old Boy Scout from Oyster Bay appeared to be moved by the ceremony.

“I feel that it’s very important to honor the veterans and people who serve in the military,” Christian said. “I think it’s really nice they have veteran ceremonies like this.”

After the event, the veterans spoke of the flag’s meaning and the different ways that local veterans continue to help others.

“The flags represent men and women in our community who serve their local VSOs and put service above themselves,” Gallego said. “In that service, they find their humanity.”

AMVETS has a food pantry and visit the Northport VA, he said. Gallego, who served as a State Guard in the Division of Naval and Military Affairs, has participated in humanitarian missions including Hurricane Sandy.

Richard DeJesu, AMVETS commander said that his organization collects food, which they personally deliver to veteran food pantries. “We also recently gave the Girl Scouts $500 worth of Girl Scout cookies,” he said. “They sent the cookies we paid for to troops overseas.”

Robert Lane, AMVET second vice president UVO Nassau County, summarized his feeling about the ongoing roles of veterans. “This isn’t just about the veterans from World Wars I and II,” he said. “It’s about what was, what’s now and what’s coming in the future.”