A memorial commemorating veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq is coming soon to East Meadow, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced Monday.
The county has entered a public-private partnership with Heroes Among Us, a Nassau-based nonprofit for veterans, which plans on forming an advisory committee to establish a monument in Eisenhower Park.
“This October will mark 20 years since the beginning of the war in Afghanistan,” Curran told reporters during a news conference in the park. “Since then, more than 7,000 Americans have lost their lives and more than 2.5 million Americans have served in both the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and many of those veterans call Nassau County home.”
Curran noted that the county is looking to raise money for its design and commission, with a goal of approximately $100,000. The project currently has funds of $10,000, which was put forth by Heroes Among Us.
“This memorial has a very, very special place in our hearts and Heroes is just so excited to be working with Nassau County,” said Virginia Cervasio, founder of Heroes Among Us. “We are hoping to raise the funds that are needed to break ground at our scheduled date and we look forward from there to honoring all our vets who have served.”
Cervasio encourages those who are looking to donate towards the memorial to contact her through the non-profit’s website at heroesamongus24.org.
“I think this is critically important to us, not only as a nation or as a Long Island community, but as a county to put up a memorial,” said Tom Tack, an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran who spoke at the conference representing Northrop Grumman. “It’s only fitting that we honor them and their memory, for those who gave a last full measure to this nation.”
