Valley Stream bar owner salutes veterans

Many of Nick Passariello’s customers at the Corner Pub in Valley Stream are veterans, so the business owner decided to honor them with a mural on the bar’s windows. It is his way of saying thanks.

Passariello said he spotted Bill McClure painting the windows of a bar on Atlantic Avenue in East Rockaway for Memorial Day. He got McClure’s name and phone number, and the two got together and discussed designs for the front and side windows at the Corner Pub. About three weeks ago, McClure came to Valley Stream and spent about six hours painting.

“It made a lot of people that frequent the bar happy, many of which are veterans,” McClure said.

Since then, Passariello said, he has received numerous compliments from customers and members of the community. One woman, whose son was killed in the Vietnam War, came in to express her gratitude. “People have actually stopped in here and thanked me,” Passariello said. “I didn’t do anything. I’m just a guy who had some windows painted.”

Passariello said it all started when 23-year-old sailor, Andrew DeMarsico, stopped in the bar in his Naval uniform. DeMarsico was recently home in Valley Stream after serving for four years, and before beginning another four-year enlistment. Passariello said DeMarsico was quickly surrounded by customers of the bar who wanted to hear about his military experience. That got the owner thinking about how he could honor veterans, as well as those serving now.

“I was actually able to look in the eyes of someone who just got back and say thank you,” said Passariello, who fought in Vietnam with the Marines. “To him, that meant the world and to me it meant the world.”

The paintings, which depict the Iwo Jima scene, an American flag and fireworks, will remain on the windows until at least the Fourth of July, Passariello said.

Passariello bought the bar, located at Central and Lutz avenues, two months ago.

Billy Valerio, who was a field medic with the Army in 1976, simply said of the paintings, “It’s good for the vets.”

Passariello said he just wanted to honor the men, women and families who have made a sacrifice for the United States. “It’s not about me,” he said. “It’s about the kids over there fighting now, and everybody before that.”