Click here to continue reading July 2010: Volume 10 - Issue 10
Yesterday, we remembered those who gave their lives for our country. The sacrifice they made guarantees our freedom, something we often take for granted. I hope all our alumni had a safe Memorial Day and pray for many more. One sight that needs no explanation is the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima . The below story is a reminder about one of the deadliest battles in the history of WWII with some personal touches..
Click here to continue reading June 2010: Volume 10 - Issue 9
A nurse took the tired and very anxious serviceman to the bedside.
"Your son is here," she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened. Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand.
Click here to continue reading May 2010: Volume 10 - Issue 8
Folks -
It seems we, who are still on Long Island, had our April showers in March this year. We had the snowiest February and rainiest March on record. On to April and a few dates not to be forgotten.
04/03 - Marshall Plan Anniversary (1948)
04/06 - US Entered WWI (1917)
04/09 - Former POW Recognition Day
04/10 - Bataan Death March (1942)
04/14 - PVA established (1947)
04/17 - Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961)
Click here to continue reading April 2010: Volume 10 - Issue 7
As 60 Minutes on Sunday January 3, 2010 showed us: "Two Wars Are Slowing The Large Bureaucracy, Delaying Benefits." What follows below is the text of their video.
Delay, Deny and Hope That I Die
Two wars and a recession have significantly increased the claims handled by the U.S. Dept. of Veteran's Affairs, slowing the large bureaucracy and frustrating many veterans.
Click here to continue reading February 2010: Volume 10 - Issue 5
Click here to continue reading January 2010: Volume 10 - Issue 4
Click here to continue reading October 2011: Volume 12 - Issue 1
Click here to continue reading July 2011: Volume 11 - Issue 10
The state with the most deaths was California with 5,573 killed. The next four were New York with 4,121; Texas 3,415; Pennsylvania 3,144 and Illinois 2,934. And the total number of 19, 20 and 21 year old casualties totaled over 32,000.
Click here to continue reading June 2011: Volume 11 - Issue 9
This was written by a Chaplain serving in Iraq :
For those who are unaware, the National Anthem is played at all military base theaters before the movie begins.
Click here to continue reading May 2011: Volume 11 - Issue 8
I just got this e-mail from an Ol' Marine V.N. Vet I served with !
Click here to continue reading April 2011: Volume 11 - Issue 7
Was an air attack by bombers of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) on nine oil refineries around Ploieşti , Romania on 1 August 1943, during WWII.. It was a strategic bombing mission and part of the 'oil campaign' to deny petroleum based fuel to the Axis. The mission resulted in "no curtailment of overall product output", and so was unsuccessful.
Click here to continue reading March 2011: Volume 11 - Issue 6
Lindsay Lohan, 24, and Paris Hilton got their names and faces all over the news because they went to jail for a few short weeks or days for acting out, negative behavior, resisting arrest, cocaine possession, being drunk and disorderly, not to mention their insolent attitude.
What do you know about these men?
Click here to continue reading February 2011: Volume 11 - Issue 5
The first and last pictures were taken at the beach in Santa Barbara adjacent to the pier. There is a veterans group that started putting a cross and candle for every military person killed in Iraq and Afghanistan . The amazing thing is that the group only does this on weekends. They put up this simulated graveyard Friday and take it down Sunday evening. Guys sleep in the sand next to the pier to keep watch at night so nobody can destroy their graveyard. Every cross has the name, rank, Date of Birth and Date of Death of someone who has passed.
Click here to continue reading January 2011: Volume 11 - Issue 4
Although now 79 years of age, he began creating his first boat in 1948, when he was only 17. He uses a razor blade, tweezers and sandpaper to carve the pieces and boxes, then sticks his completed product together with balsa wood glue. In total. more than 650,000 matchsticks were used to create an amazing collection of 1,300 scale models. Even 1,200 aircraft made even more realistic appearance to dress the decks of aircraft carriers
Click here to continue reading March 2012: Volume 12 - Issue 6
Phil Warren from the UK spent 62 years to build this incredible fleet of 432 ships. All vessels are built entirely of matchsticks and boxes of wooden matches. The collection includes nearly 370 American and 60 British ships.
Although now 79 years of age, he began creating his first boat in 1948, when he was only 17. He uses a razor blade, tweezers and sandpaper to carve the pieces and boxes, then sticks his completed product together with balsa wood glue. In total. more than 650,000 matchsticks were used to create an amazing collection of 1,300 scale models. Even 1,200 aircraft made even more realistic appearance to dress the decks of aircraft carriers
Click here to continue reading February 2012: Volume 12 - Issue 5
Joseph Ingino received the Veterans Distinguished Service Award given by Nassau County 's Executive Ed Mangano & Director of Veterans Services Joe Pascarella.
Click here to continue reading January 2012: Volume 12 - Issue 4
When visitors first enter the museum, they will hear a sound like wind chimes coming from above them and their attention will be drawn upward 24 feet to the ceiling of the two-story high atrium.
Click here to continue reading February 2013: Volume 13 - Issue 5
You may have already known of this, but I sure didn't.
In spite of watching film about WW II and the European theater, I never thought to wonder how all the military vehicles were supplied with fuel.
They sure couldn't just stop at the corner station and fill up their vehicle, tank or jeep or car. I found this film fascinating.
Joe Carfora 1962
He was getting old and paunchy,
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he once fought in,
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies,
They were heroes, every one.
Click here to continue reading June 2013: Volume 13 - Issue 9
By James Webb
The rapidly disappearing cohort of Americans that endured the Great Depression and then fought World War II is receiving quite a send-off from the leading lights of the so-called 60s generation. Tom Brokaw has published two oral histories of "The Greatest Generation" that feature ordinary people doing their duty and suggest that such conduct was historically unique.
Click here to continue reading December 2013: Volume 14 - Issue 3
Joe Carfora
As we face a new year, I recall visiting with three old friends, a few years back, at a park in the nation's capital. It seems like only yesterday that we were all together, but actually it has been 42 years. There was a crowd at the park that day, and it took us a while to connect, but with the aid of a book we made it. I found Harry, Bruce and Paul. In 1970-72 we were gung-ho young fighter pilots on America and Constellation off Vietnam, the cream of the crop of the U.S. Navy, flying F-4J Phantoms. Now their names are on that 500-foot-long Vietnam War Memorial.
Click here to continue reading February 2014: Volume 14 - Issue 5
A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside. "Your son is here," she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened.
Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement. The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile. He refused.
Click here to continue reading April 2014: Volume 14 - Issue 7
Click here to continue reading May 2014: Volume 14 - Issue 8
The fifth San Antonio class amphibious transport dock, is the fifth ship of the United States Navy to be named after the state of New York. New York has a crew of 360 and can carry up to 700 Marines. It's a warship designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists and terrorism!!!
Click here to continue reading December 2014: Volume 15 - Issue 3
JAN SCRUGGS
Founder and President
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
In 1979, Jan Scruggs conceived the idea of building the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington , D.C. , as a tribute to all who served during one of the longest wars in American history. Today, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is among the most visited memorials in the nation's capital.
Scruggs was a wounded and decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, having served in the 199th Light Infantry Brigade of the U.S. Army. He felt a memorial would serve as a healing device for a different kind of wound that inflicted on our national psyche by the long and controversial Asian war.
Click here to continue reading March 2015: Volume 15 - Issue 6
Hi Bob,
Attached are some letters that have accompanied some donations to the Hicksville Vietnam Era Veterans memorial. Donations continue to be received, slow, but steady.
Also, the Hicksville Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday, May 25. It will step off at 9:00am from the Sears south parking lot and end at the Middle School (our junior high) on Jerusalem Avenue. This year's Grand Marshal is Hicksville VFW Commander William Walden, Hicksville High '65. As Memorial Day approaches, please keep our servicemen and servicewomen in your prayers.
Semper Fi
Click here to continue reading May 2015: Volume 15 - Issue 8
A chaplain, who happened to be assigned to the Pentagon, told of an incident that happened right after Flight 77 hit the Pentagon on 9/11. A daycare facility inside the Pentagon had many children, including infants who were in heavy cribs. The daycare supervisor, looking at all the children they needed to evacuate, was in a panic over what they could do. There were many children, mostly toddlers, as well as the infants that would need to be taken out with the cribs. There was no time to try to bundle them into carriers and strollers.
Click here to continue reading October 2016: Volume 17 - Issue 1
Submitted by Kathy McDonald Corey
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
Click here to continue reading January 2017: Volume 17 - Issue 4
The following was republished from the August 2022 article.
Hicksville Vietnam War Era Memorial Dedication Ceremony
Overview By John Tranchina - HHS 1964
Memorial Day 2022 - It was though a burden was lifted from the community after months of isolation from friends, neighbors and family, as a result of Covid restrictions. As dawn emerged the eastern sky was a clear light blue.
Spectators and participants gathered on the lawn of the Middle School to pay tribute to those who fell in combat over past and recent years. The various monuments at the Memorial Garden represent not only the fallen but past residents of the community who served this country in times of conflict.
Click here to continue reading October 2022: Volume 23 - Issue 1
A Tour of Hicksville's Veterans' Park
Submitted by John Maniec, HHS Class of 1964
Editors' Note: John Maniec recently returned to Hicksville and created this narrated video of the Veterans' Park. It is located at the site of the former high school/junior high school and now middle school on Jerusalem Avenue. Thank you, John, for sharing these memorials with those of us who now live far from Hicksville.
Don't Let Them Die Twice
Submitted by John Maniec, Class of 1964
Next June 2024, God-willing, I will experience a significant milestone in my life. It will be 60 years since I graduated with my Hicksville High School Class of 1964.