Newsletter for the Alumni and Friends of
Hicksville High School Hicksville, New York

The Editors:
Buffalo Bob Casale '61	Linda (Piccerelli) Hayden '60
Pat (Koziuk) Driscoll '56	Bob (Gleason) Wesley '61

Contributing Editors: Bob Gillette & Walter Schmidt

Webmaster: Roger Whitaker

To contact the editors, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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HICKSVILLE VIETNAM WAR ERA MEMORIAL - PROJECT UPDATE

The final Confirmed List of Names, organized alphabetically by graduating class year, just as it will appear on the actual Memorial is what we will continue to publish from this point forward! To review the final list, please go to this month's Update in the Honoring Our Veterans tab of this issue of HixNews.

Construction of the Vietnam War Era Memorial is now complete!!! The only exception is a possible image to be added to the top of the Center Stone to make it taller. Anyone may now stop by to view the Memorial! Please see the two recent photos below this note.

The official Dedication Ceremony will be announced in the 1/1/2020 issue of HixNews, or slightly afterwards, for a date in the spring when weather should be best for an outdoor event. We only have about $3,500 left in Memorial Funds and more may be needed, so it is still not too late to donate, especially since no new donations were received in October, or November.

For additional details, please see the latest Update, located in the Honoring Our Veterans section of this newsletter.

We trust this finds you after enjoying a Very Happy Thanksgiving and we wish each of you a Very Merry Christmas and All Good Things for 2020!!

As always, should you wish to make any comments on this Update, please email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

On behalf of the Project Team,
Joe Carfora, HHS 1962

Bill Walden in front of the Memorial on Veterans Day this year; 11/11/19

Bill showing the Memorial after this year's Veterans Day ceremonies to state, county & local dignitaries that were present. From left to right, with Bill, are NY State Senator Jim Gaughran, Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joe Salandino & Nassau County Legislator Arnold Drucker. Not pictured is Nassau County Legislator Rose Walker, to whom Bill showed the Memorial later that day.

CLASS OF 1980 CLASS REUNION

August 8, 2020, 7:30-11:30 pm
Oak Room at the Heritage Club at Bethpage.
Cost $125 includes food and drink.
Payment info will be released soon.
Nearby Hotels include: (Book sooner rather than later)
Hilton Garden Inn Round Swamp Road
Homewood Suites Round Swamp Road
Holiday Inn, Plainview on Sunny Side Blvd
Four Points by Sheraton in Melville, Plainview on South Service Road
Any questions? Contact Sue at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Newsletter

Photo Gallery

WELCOME TO BEOWULF!

Ted Swedalla, Class of 1964

We are a small show kennel located in Central Virginia. The origins of Beowulf date back to 1985 in Marlborough, Massachusetts and started with the Beagle bloodlines of Bridal Vale, Chrisette, Buglair and White Acres.

Over the many years since my first dog, "Dawn", many a fine Beagle has entered our lives. These hounds have all been registered with the "Beowulf Kennel" name and many have had very successful careers in the conformation ring. The most important job for these little guys however, is to be a family member which improves the quality of life for all involved. In addition to activities relating to having a show kennel, I've been given the job of Supporting Membership Director of the National Beagle Club of America. The NBC Supporting Membership consists of those Beaglers who primary focus involves conformation, obedience, agility, and tracking. My wife, Terri and I have been members of the National Beagle Club since 1985.

We strive to produce a pretty little hound that demonstrates elegant breed type. Most importantly these dogs must have the qualities of temperament that allow them to be an excellent companion animal. Like most, our Beagles are comedians and engage in mischief on a regular basis. Our German Shepherd Dogs are also exhibited at conformation shows but take life a bit more seriously and thus have a full time job trying to keep the Beagles in line.

Over the last 10 years we have seen a renaissance in the Beagle conformation ring. The use of the internet is bringing changes to breeding practices by expanding breeding options and thus expanding the gene pool of the Beagle's that are now being exhibited. The National Beagle Club of America Specialty has taken on an international flavor. We now see Beagles from many parts of the world competing at our annual Specialty Show. This has resulted in better moving dogs and bitches, both in side gate and coming and going.

Flashback

Below are photos of the Kennel under construction

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.

You are his life, his love, his leader.

He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.

You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." -- Unknown

It often feels like the blink of an eye from the time you hold a seconds-old newborn pup until you reflect back warmly on all the memories that pup brought you through the years. The foundation of Beowulf Kennel and those dogs who followed shortly after can be found here. They taught us so much about this wonderful hobby and sport, as their great-great, etc grandchildren continue to do so. These dogs not only provided us with opportunities to learn but have brought together many cherished friendships over time.

Living with GSDs is a completely different experience than that with Hounds. The Germans--as we affectionately refer to them--are vigilant and move with an elegant stealth. They typically respond quickly to correction and rarely laugh at you as our beloved Beagles are known to do during training. Our Germans can be rather comical in their own way.......there is nothing sillier than watching a big male German Shepherd Dog running around the house with his little stuffed lobster toy!

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Memory Lane

Two Tough Questions

Question 1:

If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had 8 kids already, three who were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally retarded, and she had syphilis, would you recommend that she have an abortion? Read the next question before looking at the response for this one.

Question 2:

It is time to elect a new world leader, and only your vote counts. Here are the facts about the three candidates.

• Candidate A - Associates with crooked politicians, and consults with astrologers. He's had two mistresses. He also chain smokes and drinks 8 to 10 martinis a day.

• Candidate B - He was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon, used opium in college, and drinks a quart of whiskey every evening.

• Candidate C - He is a decorated war hero. He's a vegetarian, doesn't smoke, drinks an occasional beer and never cheated on his wife.

Which of these candidates would be your choice?

And, by the way, on your answer to the abortion question: If you said YES, you just killed Beethoven.

Pretty interesting isn't it? It makes a person think before judging someone. Wait till you see the end of this note! Keep reading.

Never be afraid to try something new. Remember: Amateurs...built the ark. Professionals...built the Titanic

And Finally, can you imagine working for a company that has a little more than 500 employees and has the following statistics:

• 29 have been accused of spousal abuse
• 7 have been arrested for fraud
• 19 have been accused of writing bad checks
• 117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses
• 3 have done jail time for assault
• 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
• 14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
• 8 have been arrested for shoplifting\
• 21 are currently defendants in lawsuits
• 84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year

Guess which organization this is? Give up yet?

Casale's Corner

Article that ran in Wall Street Journal on, Monday July 23, 2018...long ago but never too late to hear a story like this.

"We were overwhelmed," said Lt. Col. Nick Jaskolski.  "I really don't have words to describe how surprised and moved we all were.  I had never even heard of the town before."  Col. Jaskolski, a veteran of the Iraq war, is commander of the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade of the Arkansas Army National Guard.  For three weeks earlier this summer, the 142nd had been conducting an emergency deployment readiness exercise in Wyoming , training and sleeping outdoors, subsisting on field rations.  Now it was time for the 700 soldiers to return to their base.

A charter bus company had been hired for the 18-hour drive back to Arkansas .  The Army had budgeted for a stop to get snacks.  The bus company determined that the soldiers would reach North Platte , in western Nebraska , around the time they would likely be hungry.  The company placed a call to the visitors' bureau:  Was there anywhere in town that could handle a succession of 21 buses, and get 700 soldiers in and out for a quick snack?    

North Platte said yes. North Platte has always said yes!
The community welcomed more than 700 service men and women in North Platte , Nebraska , June 18-19. (Photo courtesy of Stephen Barkley, North Platte Telegraph).

During World War II, North Platte was a geographically isolated town of 12,000. Soldiers, sailors and aviators on their way to fight the war rode troop trains across the nation, bound for Europe via the East Coast or the Pacific via the West Coast. The Union Pacific Railroad trains that transported the soldiers always made 10-minute stops in North Platte to take on water.

The townspeople made those 10 minutes count.  Starting in December 1941      , they met every train: up to 23 a day, beginning at 5 a.m. and ending after midnight.  Those volunteers greeted between 3,000 and 5,000 soldiers a day.  They presented them with sandwiches and gifts, played music for them, danced with them, baked birthday cakes for them.  Every day of the year, every day of the war, they were there at the depot.  They never missed a train, never missed a soldier.

They fed six million soldiers by the end of the war.  Not one cent of government money was asked for or spent, save for a $5 bill sent by President Franklin D Roosevelt. The soldiers never forgot the kindness.  Most of them, and most of the townspeople who greeted them, are gone now.And now in 2018, those 21 busloads from the 142nd Field Artillery were on their way, expecting to stop at some fast food joint.