By Scott Brinton
Dozens of people turned out for the annual event. In the crowd were members of the Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and the North Merrick Fire Department, as well as children from the local TLC Day Care Center.
A number of dignitaries were on hand as well, including New York state Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr., Assemblyman David McDonough, who is a veteran, Nassau County Legislator David Denenberg and Lou Kruh, a longtime Merrick Board of Education trustee who is also a decorated World War II veteran and Post 1280 member.
John Murphy, a Korean War veteran and commander of Post 1280, led the ceremony. Post 1280 member Walter Ellensohn, who was ill and could not attend, was recognized as the War Monument chairman who dedicated untold hours to its creation.
The North Merrick Fire Department, led by Chief Scott Sabel, served as the color guard. Members of Boy Scout Troop 23 cleaned up the site the day before the ceremony, raking up piles of leaves.
Michael Fronte and Steven Elliott, students at Merrick Avenue Middle School, played taps. And Plaza Bagel donated bags and bags of buttered bagels for service attendees to munch on after the ceremony.
Comments about this story? SBrinton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 203.
