Thursday, October 1, 2026
On Veterans Day, residents gathered in front of the Veteran’s Memorial in Oyster Bay to honor one of their own, the late Reginald Butt Jr., with the dedication of a town bench in his memory.
The ceremony, hosted by the Town of Oyster Bay, recognized Butt’s decades of military service and lifelong dedication to his hometown. Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Town Clerk Rich LaMarca and Councilwoman Vicki Walsh joined members of Butt’s family, local veterans and community groups for the tribute.
“This bench will forever honor a man whose heart has always been anchored right here in Oyster Bay,” Saladino said. “Reginald Butt’s life reflected everything that Oyster Bay stands for; family, service, community and dedication to each other.”
Butt, who graduated from Oyster Bay High School in 1956, left for Navy basic training just four days after graduation. Inspired by his father, a British Royal Navy veteran of World War I, he went on to serve 20 years of active duty in the U.S. Navy, rising to the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer.
While stationed in Indonesia, Butt personally transcribed a Red Cross telegram announcing the birth of his first child, an experience Saladino said symbolized “a life lived in service and sacrifice, but also in love.”
After retiring from active duty, Butt served another 10 years in the Fleet Reserve, completing three decades of military service. When he returned home to Oyster Bay, he married his childhood friend Mary Ann DiLorenzo in 1964 and raised four children; Reginald, Phillip, Carmella and Elizabeth.
LaMarca described Butt as a pillar of the community who continued serving his country through civilian life. He worked as an electrical engineer in the defense industry, developing simulators for the military, and became an active member of several civic organizations, including the Lions Club, American Legion and VFW.
“Reggie worked tirelessly to ensure that every veteran in our town was remembered and respected,” LaMarca said. “He organized the Memorial Day and Veterans Day parades, led the Pearl Harbor Day ceremonies and made sure every veteran’s grave was flagged with honor.”
The bench, LaMarca added, holds special meaning for Butt’s family. It stands in the same spot where his wife and fellow Legion members once sat to watch the parades he helped lead through downtown.
As Father Walter Kedjierski of St. Dominic’s Parish delivered a final blessing, he asked that Butt’s life serve as a reminder of “the virtue and godliness he showed us here in Oyster Bay and across our country.”
“By having this bench and this plaque,” Saladino said, “we ensure that Reggie Butt Jr. will never be forgotten.”
