__________________ Merrick _________________
HERALD Vol. 28 No. 48
Merrick artist talks growth
Annual stairway climb at Mepham
Page 3
Page 10 $1.00 $1.00
NoVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 3, 2025
Local’s book on veterans now available to read vice. “I started writing about veterans back in July of 2017,” David Gro g an may be a Grogan said. He took his skills retired veteran, but he still from writing crime fiction and works towards a vital mission: put them towards connecting with brothers and sisters in the preservation of history. Grogan is a retired naval arms by featuring their stories officer and international law- on his website and eventually yer, serving for about 27 years, creating this book. All of the book’s proceeds go regularly negotiating treaties, towards America’s and advising admiVetDogs, a veteranrals. focused charity Throughout the years, Grogan travbased in Smithtown elled around the that helps train and world throughout provide free guide various wars and and service dogs to national crises, veterans and first including working responders. So far, at the Pentagon in the book has raised DAVID GRoGAN response to 9/11. about $2,000 for the Wherever he went, Author foundation. he met fascinating Tom Garvey, 78, people whose stories were a Merrick resident and combat worth preserving. veteran of the Vietnam War, is Grogan’s book is “Learning featured in Chapter 4 of the to Live From Those Willing to book. He was 19 when he was Die,” published in September, drafted into the military. collects the stories of 26 veter“This marine looks at my ans: five of World War II, 13 of orders,” Garvey remembered, the Vietnam War, two from Des- “he says, ‘Oh, you’re going to ert Storm, three from the Iraq Dong Ha. You don’t want to go War, and three from the Cold there.’ I’m saying to myself… War. These stories are orga- What is this place?” nized to communicate 14 life Garvey served in the Vietlessons readers can learn from nam War from 1967 - 68 as a the lives of service members part of the Army’s field artilduring the time of their ser-
By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo
jdalessandro@liherald.com
I
Holden Leeds/Herald
A line of thanks, donations go to those in need In preparation for Thanksgiving, hundreds of turkeys were distributed last week at Stew Leonard’s, continuing a holiday tradition that has reached its 45th year. Story, additional photos, Page 6.
decided that I needed to try to do something.
Continued on page 9