By John C. O'Connell
Frederick A. Gear, Central's Class of 1936, was with the Army Air Force flying C-47 night flights out of Italy to rescue Yugoslavians caught in the agonies of war. He died of meningitis while serving in Europe in 1944.
The Gear sisters, many members of the Central High School Alumni Association and other residents of Valley Stream gathered Saturday in respect to honor Central students who made the supreme sacrifice in America's wars.
"Our brother enlisted because he felt he had to help get the war over with," said Florence, Class of '34. "He knew something had to be done," Mary said.
Mary, Class of '33, was the music director in 1939 for School District 24 and organized and trained the first elementary school marching band on Long Island in 1941.
Mayor Edward Cahill, Town Councilman James Darcy, former Valley Stream Postmaster Joe Bergen, American Legion Commander George Schuchman, School Board President Andrew Walters, other proud veterans and dignitaries participated in the solemn ceremonies on Saturday, organized and led by Valerie Esposito.
The Star Spangled Banner was sung by Jamie Tracey. Fr. Aloysius Pakianather of Blessed Sacrament Church said the invocation. The Western Long Island Detachment of the U.S. Marine Corpse League served as the honor guard and fired the salute.
In honor of the students of Valley Stream Central High School who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf and other armed conflicts and in memory of the following who made the supreme sacrifice.
World War II
Howard Abrams
Arthur M. Barteau
George Boyne
Leslie M. Braren
James F. Cashin
Donald M. Combs
Richard Combs
Walter G. Critchley
Henry V. Damm
Dominick J. Distasio
Frederick C. Doscher
Francis P. Flynn, Jr.
Elwood F. Fossett
Harold M. Frederick
Frederick A. Gear
John Gildea
William Gregory
Joseph L. Huelster
Arthur Kersten
John J. Kerwin
George Krasa
William J. McQueeney
Maurice G. Mackey
John J. Mclaughlin
John G. Motley
Chester M. Murphy
William D. Nally
Howard Nitterhouse, Jr.
Robert H. O'Loughlin
Edward Pearsall
Albert Plotkin
Robert G. Pupke
Ernest H. Reckmann
Jacob Reisert
Frank C. Robertson
Maynard J. Rogg
Owen H. Salvage
Raymond T. Slezak
Robert Stokes
C. Maxwell Wellman
Walter Wittendorf
Joseph J. Wujcik
Korea
John J. Burke, Jr.
Thomas L. Shields
Charles G. Schifflin, Jr.
Eugene F. Voss
Edward C. Wahlgren
Vietnam
Michael J. Abruzzesa, Jr.
Richard E. Gideon
Andrew M. Giordano
John J. Hale
Albert F. Lupoli, Jr.
Robert S. Mason, Jr.
Stephen T. Moody
Angelo A. Petraglia
William F. Reichert
John M. Walsh
