Video: West Hempstead Salutes Sacrifices of Local Vets

As the country celebrated Veterans Day on Nov. 11, West Hempstead held a special ceremony to pay tribute to the local service men and women who have sacrificed for their country.

Veterans, their spouses and fellow members of the community gathered in front of the American Legion Cathedral Post 1087 in West Hempstead. The ceremony kicked off at 11a.m. with a prayer led by Lou Siciliano, a former commander of the post who served as chaplain for the day.

The event included speeches from Ed Giacin, the current commander, the post's three vice commanders, and the president of the Ladies Auxiliary, Carmen Torre, and the raising of the American flag.(See video.)

John Shaud V, a veteran of the Korean War, stood at attention throughout the ceremony, hoisting an American flag and wearing a Civil War uniform.

"I'm trying to get people to recognize the veterans of the Civil War, including the 62,000 casualties," Shaud said. Both his great grandfather, John Shaud, a member of 93rd Pennsylvania Regiment, and his great grand-uncle, Dan Sickles, who lost one of his legs in action, were soldiers in this war.

Shoud, himself, served in the Air Force from 1951 to 1955 during the Korean War. He spent some of this time in Alaska, monitoring the Russian bombers who were flying over the Artic Circle.

Eddie Rosenblum, a West Hempstead resident and veteran of WWII, rode his bicycle to the ceremony. While he just celebrated his 90th birthday this year, Rosemblum still rides his bike every day,  goes horseback riding on the weekends and continues to take trips to Austria to go skiiing.

Rosenblum was in the service from 1942 to 1946, working as an intrepreter for the 28th Division.

"I was in Europe and the Pacific, in both theaters, during World War II," he said. "I was part of the third wave to storm Omaha Beach in the Invasion of Normandy."

View the photos and videos from the ceremony.