Huntington Honors 365 Surviving WWII Vets

By Nolan Cleary

The Town of Huntington honored the last surviving 365 World War II veterans in town, in a poignant and moving public ceremony last weekend.

Huntington Supervisor Supervisor Chad Lupinacci added two plaques to the Town's World War II Memorial, memorializing the 365 veterans' names - many whom were in attendance.

Some of the key note speakers included Robert Corcoran, Nick Haridopolos, Peter O'Donnell, Seymour Perlmutter, and Jack Stahl.

"We are proud to honor the memory, service and sacrifice of these 365 Huntington World War II veterans and forever memorialize their service to our country," said Lupinacci. "It is a special honor to be here with the veterans who served and to see them receive this recognition today as we remember all of those who served alongside them."

Mortimer Roberts, a veteran of World War II, delivered the Pledge of Allegiance. Rabbi Yaakov Saacks of The Chai Center in Dix Hills and Reverend Matthew Means of the Old First Presbyterian Church of Huntington were also present.

Other officials at the event were Councilman Ed Smyth, himself a veteran of the US Marine Corps; Assemblyman Keith Brown, whose father, the late Supreme Court Justice Harry Richard Brown, was a bronze star recipient and radio operator on a B-17 bomber; and Lieutenant Richard Roseo from the Suffolk County Police Department, Second Precinct.

Joseph B. Bennett, a Tuskegee Airman from Halesite was among the 365 veterans honored.