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MPK honors its veterans on Veterans Day Page 3 VOL. 74 NO. 48
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Massapequa Kiwanis members, veterans, Boy Scouts and officials amid the Field of Honor at Massapequa High School before opening ceremonies on Saturday, November 8.
Massapequa Kiwanis Club unveils its Fields of Honor By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Throughout Massapequa, hundreds of American flags flew in the breeze on Veterans Day—and the days leading up to the holiday—recognizing those who served the country in the military. The fields of flags were put up by the Massapequa Kiwanis Club, which reaches out to the community every year to support the project. In total, 8 fields of flags were set up, one at each of the schools in the community. “The field of flags serves as both a reminder and tribute to the Veterans who have served and presently serving our country,” said Leonard Antonelli, president of the Kiwanis Club in Massapequa. “All are welcome to walk through the flags, read names,
listen to and share their stories of themselves, family members, friends and others who have given in many ways so that we are able to have the freedom to celebrate our flag.” A formal unveiling of the fields of flags was held Sat., Nov. 8 at Massapequa High School where Kiwanians, Boy Scouts, veterans, officials and community members gathered to recognize veterans and the importance of the project. The Boy Scouts led the presentation of colors and the National Anthem was sung by Claire Ringel. Massapequa officials including Massapequa School Superintendent William Brennan, Massapequa Park Village Mayor Daniel Pearl, Oyster Bay Town Councilman Thomas Hand, and New York State
Assemblyman Michael Durso attended the event, thanking the Massapequa Kiwanis Club for the opportunity to recognize veterans. Also attending the event were members of the Massapequa School District’s Key Club Noreen Antonelli and Maeve Higgins. Both girls said they wanted to attend the event to support Key Club, a student branch of Kiwanis International that focuses on community service. “This event is something we do as part of our work with Key Club, but it’s also just a good thing to be here to honor our veterans,” said Antonelli. Higgins agreed that the effort goes beyond just fulfilling a requirement for Key Club. “This event is important because veterans fought for our
freedom,’ she said. That’s why we are here today to recognize and honor them.” “The Massapequa Kiwanis Club is working to ensure that one day there will be a field of honor in every town across the country,” said Antonelli. “I am happy to report that since last year at least two more fields that we know of have been erected due to the influence of what we do here in Massapequa,” said Antonelli. “A local family whose son is in the Merchant Marine’s built a field of honor in
memory of a 142 cadets killed in WWII.” More recently, Massapequa Kiwanian Dominick DiFranco’s daughter, Linda Thomas, joined the Greater Danbury Kiwanis club and built a field of 200 flags. A news item in the local paper in Danbury reported on the project, stating: “This fall there will be a new crop on the grounds of the New Milford Historical Society. It is not golden ears of corn but waving stripes of the American Flag. Row upon CONTINUED ON PAGE 2