Village will dedicate Maple Avenue to heroes

Rockville Centre will honor its best and bravest with a new street sign next week.

“The dedication and commitment of those who have served the residents and visitors of our great community does not go unnoticed at Village Hall,” Mayor Francis X. Murray wrote in a letter to residents.

On June 14 at 7 p.m. on the Village Green, the village will unveil the new “Avenue of Heroes” street sign for Maple Avenue. The St. Agnes choir will perform. “We encourage everybody to come out to honor your neighbors and friends,” said Trustee Ed Oppenheimer. “It should be a very nice and moving service.”

Maple Avenue is the home of the police department, the fire department and the veterans of American Legion Post 303. Also included is the village’s memorial for those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. “This memorial also serves as a place to remember the lives of our fellow neighbors who were taken too soon, and look for ways to ensure that each and every one of them is not forgotten,” Murray wrote of the 9/11 memorial. “We include those taken among our village’s heroes.”

Maple Avenue will be closed from Morris Avenue to Forest Avenue from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the ceremony.

“We invite everybody to come out and recognize our heroes: present, past,” said Deputy Mayor Nancy Howard. “What our soldiers, our veterans have done, what our soldiers are currently doing. What domestically, our police department — and right here in Rockville Centre, our own police department — and our fire department, who are here and at the ready to help protect and save us and rescue us in moments when we are in need. It is an important night to come out and let them know how much the community does support and recognize them. So if you’ll join us, we’d really appreciate it. A great showing goes a long way.”

People with questions about the ceremony can call Murray’s office at (516) 678-9260.