Curran inducts local veterans into NYS Veterans' Hall of Honor

Assemblyman Brian Curran (Lynbrook-21st AD) recently honored Charles Forzano of West Hempstead, Louis J. Vecchione of Malverne as well as J. Leonard Goldstein, Vincent Boden & Francis Jay Korth of Lynbrook and Anthony Martorella of East Rockaway at his third annual Veterans’ Hall of Honor.

The event was held at St. Mary’s/Maris Stella Council #2228 Knights of Columbus in Lynbrook, and each veteran was inducted by Assemblyman Curran into the New York State Veterans' Hall of Honor.

Friends and family members of the veterans gathered to celebrate their recognition.  Thanking the veterans for their service and patriotism to their country and community, Curran presented 15 honorees with a New York State Proclamation on this achievement.

Charles Forzano of West Hempstead enlisted in the United States Air Force and was stationed at Langley AFB in Virginia.  He spent seven years in the Air Force before leaving and beginning work at Grumman Data Systems in Bethpage, where he worked until 1995.

Louis J. Verchione of Malverne enlisted in the US Navy in June 1944 and served as a gunner’s mate on the Destroyer USS Erben, a Fletcher class destroyer that served in the Pacific theater. Louis rose to the rank of Seaman and was honorably discharged in 1948. However, he was recalled into the armed service in 1951, where he was placed in the US Army - and was honorably discharged again in 1954, rising to the rank of Sergeant First Class. Upon his discharge from the Army, Louis became a Marshall in the Nassau County District Court, where he remained until his retirement. Louis has been a member of the American Legion, Malverne Post #44 for 59 years. 

Lynbrook's own J. Leonard Goldstein, Vincent Boden and Francis Jay Korth were also inducted into the New York Veterans' Hall of Honor.  Their service to our nation ranging from the Caribbean during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Korean War make them outstanding patriots who put service and sacrifice above all else during tumultuous times in our nation's history.

East Rockaway's Anthony Martorella was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1951 during the Korean War and proudly served our nation in uniform until 1953. Currently, Anthony remains very active in the VFW 3350 Post and enjoys going to the meetings where some of the members are his best friends.

"This was a special event that gave our community the opportunity to celebrate the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much to ensure our freedoms and our way of life.  We owe everything that we enjoy today to those who answered the call to serve their country and each of our veterans deserves our gratitude and respect. This recognition is but a small token of appreciation for everything that they have achieved for this great nation and its citizens," said Assemblyman Brian Curran