By Nicole Falco
Caruso, who, at 33, was too old to be drafted, enlisted. "I did it for my country," he said.
A member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars for 46 years, the last seven with the Valley Stream post, Caruso decided to enlist despite his wife, Angelina's, desire that he stay home. "She said I was crazy," Caruso recalled.
"[The recruiters] asked me, 'What do you want? The Army? Navy? Marines?' I went like this," Caruso said, shrugging with his arms stretched out. "I let them pick, God forbid if something should happen."
Caruso said goodbye to his wife and 3-month-old daughter, Lucille. He spent much of his tour stationed in Plymouth, England, serving as his ship's cook. Thanks to what he learned in the Navy, Caruso's beef stew and meatballs are always in demand, according to his daughter, who's now an attorney and lives in Baldwin.
After the war, Caruso worked for the New York City Department of Highways. He retired 31 years ago.
He couldn't have known it at the time, but when he enlisted, he started a family tradition of military service. His son, Joseph E., a Marine captain, was a helicopter rescue pilot in Vietnam. Like his father, Joseph enlisted. He was in the ROTC program at Niagara University, and was called to active duty after he graduated in 1969. Caruso's grandson, Joseph A., is a Marine lance corporal, currently stationed in San Antonio. He enlisted in 2002, influenced by the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
A resident of Springfield Gardens, Queens, Caruso joined VFW Post 1790 after his local post disbanded. "[Valley Stream] is one of the best posts there is," he said. Caruso, who is proud of his service to his country and of the many medals he has received from both the government and the VFW, enjoys the camaraderie among veterans.
He is the oldest member of the post, but he doesn't let his age keep him from being an active, contributing member. Caruso regularly attends meetings at the post, driving himself - he recently completed a defensive driving course. In the weeks leading up to Memorial Day, he can be found selling buddy poppies for veterans outside Eckerd's on West Merrick Road.
Caruso is just as active at home. Considered the unofficial mayor of his community by his neighbors, he cuts his own lawn, polishes his 2000 Plymouth Neon and takes regular walks, stopping to talk to neighbors as he makes his way around town.
He said he is honored to serve as grand marshal. Gregory Feist, the VFW post commander, called Caruso "well deserving" of the recognition, particularly because he remains so active. "He's got a lot of spunk and life in him for someone who's 96 years old," Feist said. "He's well respected among members."
Like many grand marshals before him, Caruso will smile and wave to spectators from a convertible. Immediately following him in the procession will be John Murray, American Legion post commander, and Feist, who co-organized this year's parade with Jerry Hahn of the American Legion. Each year, the American Legion and VFW co-sponsor the parade. The VFW is this year's host post.
The parade will start on Rockaway Parkway north of Wheeler Avenue. It will proceed south on Rockaway Parkway to Valley Stream Boulevard and then west to Verona Place, turning left to the band shell on the Village Green. At the conclusion of the parade, memorial services will be held at the Memorial Monument at the corner of Valley Stream Boulevard and Hicks Street. The brief service will include a roll call of Valley Stream's honored dead and a presentation by state Sen. Dean Skelos to the family of Army Sgt. Gregory Wahl, a Valley Stream native who died in May 2004 while serving in Iraq.
A record number of community groups have signed up to march in this year's parade, according to Hahn. All participating organizations are expected to complete the parade route, and are encouraged to participate in the memorial service.
Comments about this story? NFalco@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 208.
