Local veterans’ organizations joined Town of Huntington Supervisor Ed Smyth, Veterans Advisory Board Chairman Bill Ober, Town officials and nearly 500 guests to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the unveiling of the Nation’s first living Vietnam Memorial, located on the historic Huntington Village Green, honoring the Huntington men who died in the service of our country in the Vietnam War.
“Our 50th anniversary commemorative event was a moving tribute to the memory of the Huntington servicemen who didn’t make it home,” said Supervisor Ed Smyth. “We were honored to host our veterans, family members of the fallen servicemen to whom this monument was dedicated, and an original member of the Huntington Women in Support of Our Men in Vietnam who were the driving force behind this memorial as well as the effort to give our soldiers abroad a connection to home, and a hero’s welcome when they returned.”
The two-part commemorative event started at the Melville Marriott with a brunch featuring live musical entertainment by Island Symphony Orchestra and renowned tenor Christopher Macchio, whose performances wowed the crowd. Keynote speeches were delivered by U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General Ret. Frank Libutti and U.S. Army Major General Ret. Anthony R. Kropp, Linda Guido, an original member of the Huntington Women in Support of Our Men in Vietnam, delivered remarks and Msgr. Charles Fink read “Bury Me With Soldiers,” the famous poem, which he penned.
The names of fallen servicemembers on Huntington’s Vietnam KIA Memorial were read by Supervisor Ed Smyth, Councilwoman Joan Cergol, Councilman Dr. Dave Bennardo, Senator Mario Mattera and Assemblyman Keith Brown.
Later, the ceremony moved to the Huntington Village Green, located at the southwest corner of Park Avenue and Main Street in Huntington, for a wreath laying at Huntington’s Vietnam KIA Memorial, surrounded by a grove of Kwanzan cherry trees adorned with American flags, patriotic music performed by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Band.
The families of Walter J. Krauss, Jr. KIA, U.S. Marine Corps; Douglas Wauchope, KIA, U.S. Marine Corps; and Paul Little, Jr. KIA, U.S. Army were in attendance for the commemorate event, as well as the family of Carol Bruhn, who was the President of the Women in Support of our Men in Vietnam.
Local officials in attendance also included Town Clerk Andrew Raia; Receiver of Taxes Jillian Guthman; Superintendent of Highways Andre Sorrentino; Assemblyman Steve Stern; County Comptroller John Kennedy; County Clerk Judy Pascale; Legislator Leslie Kennedy; and Legislator Stephanie Bontempi. Former officials in attendance included former Senator John Flanagan, representing event sponsor Northwell Health; former Legislator Susan Berland representing Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone’s office; and former Councilwoman Glenda Jackson. Allen Bode represented Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney’s office and Nick LaLota represented Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey’s office.
The Huntington Women in Support of Our Men in Vietnam planted one Kwanzan Cherry Tree for each fallen hero and the Town dedicated the Memorial in their honor on June 11, 1972. The Kwanzan Cherry trees on the Village Green are documented in Washington D.C. as the first living Memorial to the Vietnam War in the Nation.