Patriot Awards honor Seaford students, community members

Awards given out in memory of 9/11 victims

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The Seaford 9-11 Memorial Committee celebrated five graduating Seaford High School seniors at their 16th annual Patriot Award dinner held on June 25 at the Woodbury Country Club.

A day before the dinner at the high school’s graduation ceremony, Ken Haskell, president of the Seaford 9/11 Memorial Committee, gave out Patriot Awards to Melanie Cascio, Andrew Chirico, Anthony Cuchel, Tiffany Lin, and Jillan Padavan. Along with a commemorative trophy, they all received a $2,000 scholarship towards their college education.

Haskell said that the awards are given out each year to those who show the qualities of service, character and commitment seen in five Seaford alumni who died in the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. Those alumni are Tommy Haskell, Timmy Haskell, John Perry, Rob Sliwak and Michael Wittenstein.

The committee also honored Judy Bongiovi, State Sen. John E. Brooks (SHS ’68), and Jim O’Donnell Jr. (SHS ’79) at the dinner. According to Haskell, these three Seaford residents earned honorary Patriot Awards for their generosity and civic involvement in Seaford.

“They are all very proud of their Seaford roots,” Haskell added, “and all made significant contributions not only to Seaford, but to Long Island and the state as well.”