By ARIELLA MONTI and Judy Rattner
At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, attendees at a Veterans Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park observed a moment of silence. Members of American Legion Post 303, the village fire and police departments, VFW Post 103 and the Ladies Auxiliary, along with family and friends, came out on a beautiful but chilly day to honor veterans.
A road dedicated
"He was a Rockville Centre boy," said Marianna Winchester, the mother of Ronald Winchester, who was killed in an explosion during combat operations in the Al Anbar province of Iraq on Sept. 3, 2004.
Several hundred people gathered for a dedication ceremony in which part of Greystone Road was co-named 1st Lt. Ronald D. Winchester USMC Road. Winchester, who was born in Oceanside, grew up on Greystone Road. The street sign was unveiled by his grandfather, Dominick Gatta, and his mother was presented with a copy of it by the village Board of Trustees.
After South Side High School student Emma Siegel sang the national anthem, the Rev. John McCarthy, a priest at St. Agnes and a veteran himself, led an invocation. Lt. Charles Gennario of the Rockville Centre Police Department, a retired Marine Corps officer, welcomed the gathering.
Attendees included state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, Assemblyman Bob Barra, Nassau County Legislator Joe Scannell and members of Rockville Centre's government. After the event, the Winchesters hosted a reception to thank friends
and family.
Sandel Center luncheon
On Nov. 14, the village concluded its Veterans Day observances with a luncheon attended by more than 100 people at the Sandel Senior Center. Mayor Mary Bossart was among those who spoke at the event, praising the men and women who have served the nation.
