Field of Flags 2018
There will be a ground-breaking and commemorative ceremony for the North Merrick Field of Flags on Thursday, May 17, 2018, at 3:15 pm at the Harold D. Fayette School, 1057 Merrick Avenue. After the short ceremony, boy scouts and girl scout volunteers will help to put up the flags. There will be 100 flags all together.
North Merrick School District would like very much for the American Legion Post 1282 to participate in the ceremony and give a brief speech to commemorate the flags being sponsored in honor of loved ones who served. The flags will fly through Memorial Day and Flag Day until the end of the school year.
No commentsMerrick’s Memorial Day 2018 Grand Marshal, Louis G. Saraceni
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A young, Lousi G. Saraceni
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Louis Saraceni was born in 1941 in Orsogna, Italy, a small town on the Adriatic Coast near a tall mountain, La Maiella. When the German’s occupied the town because of its proximity to the mountain, Lou’s family had to leave their home and live in a grotto. When the war was over and they went back to their house, everything was gone.
In 1955 when Louis was fourteen, he and his father immigrated to the United States. They lived with a relative who sponsored them in Astoria, Queens, where many of their other townspeople settled, until they could afford their own apartment. They worked hard for three years so they could send for his mother and sister.
Lou was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1963. He trained in Fort Polk, LA and was later sent to Fort Riley, KS. He had to learn to eat hominy grits instead of his mother’s homemade pasta and tomato sauce. It was while he was home on leave that he met his future wife, Mattia, at a dance at the Cresthaven Country Club in Whitestone, Queens. They both loved dancing to Latin American music. In the spring of 1965 he was deployed with the 1st Infantry Division (The Big Red One) to Viet Nam. They were the first to land there. With the aid of helicopters, they partook in search and destroy operations and cleared the peninsula so that the rest of the American troops could land safely. They were constantly barraged with sniper fire.
Read more: Merrick’s Memorial Day 2018 Grand Marshal, Louis G. Saraceni
In Memoriam - Ralph M. Koos
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| Ralph M. Koos |
| January 15, 1928 - February 22, 2018 |
On Thursday, February 22, 2018, Post member, Ralph M. Koos, reported to Post Everlasting. Before his wife, Bertha Koos, became ill, you count on Ralph Koos to show up at the Post meetings every 4th monday of the month at our Post. Ralph and Bertha were a regular couple at our Post functions and parties. Ralph was a devoted husband to his wife Betha Koos and took care of her through her illness. Bertha Koos passed away 1 day before Ralph Koos reported to Post Everlasting. They were truly in love with each other. Ralph was also was an usher at the Cure of Ars Church Roman Catholic Church in Merrick. On Saturday evenings, at the 5:00 p.m. Mass, you would find Ralph ushering at the church and you could also find Bertha Koos sitting in the pews there also at the church. Ralph will be missed!!!
Merrick Post No. 1282, American Legion, members will be holding their solemn ceremony for Post Member, Ralph Koos, they are going to meet at N. F. Walker's Funeral Home on Tuesday, February 27, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. for a 7:00 p.m. American Legion ceremony. N. F. Walker's Funeral Home is located at 2039 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, New York. For more information call the Post phone at 516-521-6989 or the Funeral Home at 516-378-0303.
In Memoriam - Kenneth W. Woessner
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| Kenneth W. Woessner |
| June 16, 1926 - December 15, 2017 |
On Friday, December 15, 2017, Post member Kenneth W. Woessner reported to Post Everlasting. Ken was a good man!!! He was one of the first post members I met when I first became involved with the Merrick Post No. 1282, America Legion in 2007. Ken participated in a number of events for the American Legion. Being a carpenter by trade, it was a natural fit when he volunteered to help but down a new Post floor a number of years ago. He also participated in the Auxiliary Garage sale a few yeas ago. He also liked to play cards, so when the Post members started up Friday night poker night every week for the past few years, you could find Ken there. Ken will be missed!!!
Merrick Post No. 1282, American Legion, members will be holding their solemn ceremony for Post Member, Kenneth Woessner, they are going to meet at N. F. Walker's Funeral Home on Monday, December 18, 2017, at 1:30 p.m. for a 2:00 p.m. American Legion ceremony. N. F. Walker's Funeral Home is located at 2039 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, New York. For more information call the Post phone at 516-521-6989 or the Funeral Home at 516-378-0303.