More than 1,000 local residents came to Veterans Memorial Park on May 31 to attend Memorial Day ceremonies honoring Floral Park’s war dead sponsored by the Floral Park American Legion and the Inc. Village of Floral Park.
Some come every year and a large number were attracted by extensive publicity in local weekly newspapers.
An added event this year was the presentation of Presidential Memorial Certificates to the living relatives of U.S. Army Air Corp Lt. Joseph J. Auld, who has been Missing In Action for the past 66 years and whose remains were found in Burma and identified through DNA.
Receiving the award from U.S. Veterans Administration Regional Director Frank Logalbo were Helen McGowan and Mary McGowan.
Rick Gails, national service director of the Military Order of the Purple Heart also presented Lt. Auld with the Purple Heart Medal, the Asia Pacific Campaign Medal and Veterans Service Lapel Pin.
WWII Navy Veteran Nickolas Felella, a member of the Floral Park American Legion, was grand marshal.
Due to the news of Lt. Auld’s remains being identified, six television stations, Newsday and the Daily News, WINS radio and The Gateway and Dispatch covered the ceremonies.
Mayor Kevin Greene gave welcoming remarks, Nassau County American Legion commander and Floral Park resident Ned Johnson was the featured speaker and Post Commander Joe Reale, Past Commanders Peter Fleig, Al Trasolini, William J. Corbett, James Conte, Vice Commander James Whalen, Auxiliary President Toni Reale, Mother Abigail Murphy and Vicar John Flack, Katie Hanson, Scotty Beetle and the Floral Park Memorial High School Band also participated.
The ceremonies followed the annual Memorial Day Parade through the village.
