2014 Memorial Day Photos - Kings Park

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2014 Memorial Day Photos - St. James

Photos courtesy of Teese & Associates

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County High Jump Champ Alex Ladouceur Jumps 6'6

Last week Suffolk’s reigning indoor high jump champion, Smithtown West senior Alex Ladouceur, added the county outdoor title to his laurels with a leap of six feet six inches. The highest mark achieved by other participants in the big field competing at Longwood High School was 6’ – 2” before each of the talented athletes failed at 6’ – 4”. Obviously on his game, Ladouceur cleared that level on his first attempt. The day plainly belonged to Smithtown’s undefeated high flyer who went on to achieve his personal best jump, sailing over six and a half feet by a good margin! Next on the track & field agenda is the State qualifying meet (to be held at Port Jefferson H.S.) followed by the New York Championship competition in Syracuse. A young man of few words and many accomplishments, ‘Lat’ as he’s called by his teammates, said, “After that, I hope to get to The Nationals…but first things first, I guess.”

WWII Medal Recognition Ceremony - Sunday, May 25, 2014

members of American Legion James Ely Miller Memorial Post 833Smithtown’s American Legion James Ely Miller Memorial Post 833 hosted a World War II Medal Recognition Ceremony on Saturday, May 25th. The event sponsored by Congressman Tim Bishop honored Long Island World War II heroes. On hand were three WWII Veterans TEC4 Herbert Stern, U.S. Army, TEC 3 Richard Tuscani, U.S. Army and S1 Michael Sgaglione, U.S. Navy. SGT Walter Thomas, U.S. Army was unable to attend, TEC 5 William Rennard, U.S. Army is deceased his daughter Rita Fischedick  accepted his medals. Being recognized Posthumously was PFC Louis DiClementi, U.S. Army (St. James) and SSGT Anthony Cheyka, U.S. Army (Kings Park).

Richard Tuscani and Congressman BishopTEC 3 Richard Tuscani served in the U.S. Army and resides in Mastic Beach.  In the audience offering  support and congratulations to Mr. Tuscani were members of the American Legion Arthur H. Clune Post 1533 in Mastic Beach . Commander RobertMembers of American Legion Arthur H. Clune Post 1533 Mohn, Michael Kujan, Jacqulyne Alther and Jo Ann Keane. Mr. Tuscani served in WWII from December 1942 through January 1946. Sixty-Six years after leaving the service Mr. Tuscani received medals for Good Conduct, American Campaign Medal w/3 bronze service stars, the World War II Victory Medal, Marksman Badge w/Rifle Bar, Honorable Service Lapel Button and the NYS Medal for Merit.  Mr. Tuscani, is in his 90’s walks a little slow as anyone his age might accepted his medals from Congressman Bishop as his friends watched with pride. 

Congressman Bishop and Mr. SternTEC 4 Herbert Stern, U.S. Army currently resides in East Patchogue. He served in WWII from April 1943 through February 1946. Mr. Stern served in New Guinea, Philippines, Army of Occupation, Japan. Mr. Stern, 90, surrounded by his family who were beaming with pride as he received his Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Honorable Service Lapel Button, Marksman Badge w/Rifle Bar, NYS Medal for Merit. 

Mr. Sgaglione and familyS1 Michael Sgaglione, U.S. Navy resides in Middle Island. He served in WWII from October 1943 - May 1946, D-Day, Normandy.  Mr. Sgaglione received The French Legion of Honor Medal. The medal is awarded to few and very prestigious. The French Legion of Honor is an order of distinction first established by Napoleon Bonarparte in May of 1802.  It is the highest decoration bestowed in France and is divided into five categories with the Chevalier (Knight) designation being awarded to American veterans of World War I who assisted in the Liberation of France.  In order to qualify for the medal, veterans mutt have fought in one of the four main campaigns of the Liberation of France: Normandy, Provence, Ardennes, of Northern France.  Since only a small number of Legion of Honor medals are awarded each year in the United States, care is taken to nominate only those with the most distinguished records.  American recipients include Generals Dwight D. Eisenhower and Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Michael Mullen. 

Mr. Sgaglione was invited to say a few words to the audience. He thanked Congressman Bishop but spoke from his heart when he suggested that it is time to turn our attention to Korean and Viet Nam Veterans.  Saying that his generation has received all the medals and attention they needed he dedicated his medal to those veterans who served in Viet Nam and Korea. There were some in the audience who nodded in agreement. 

Congressman Bishop thanked the veterans and their families for their selflessness. He encouraged people who know of veterans who have not received recognition for their military service to contact his office.  

SSGT Anthony Cheyka, U.S. Army, Kings Park (Posthumous) was awarded medals for his service in WWII from February 1943 - September 1945. His medals will be presented to his daughter Betsey Davin and include Air Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European Aftican Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/3 bronze service stars, Presidential Unit Citation, World War II Victory Medal, Honorable Service Lapel Button, NYS Conspicuous Service Cross, NYS Conspicuous Service Star

PFC Louis DiClementi, U.S. Army, Saint James (Posthumous) was awarded medals for his service in WWII January, 1943-October, 1945. Mr. Di Clementi served in Ardennes, Central Europe, Normandy Northern France, Rhineland. Mr. Di Clementi’s medals will go to Mrs. Anna DiClementi. Medals included: Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation w/1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, European - African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/1 silver service star, World War II Victory Medal and Honorable Service Lapel Button.

Congressman Bishop with Rita FischedickTEC 5 William Rennard, U.S. Army, Holbrook (Posthumous) served in WWII from September 1940 - September 1945, Korea: May,1951-May, 1955 . Mr. Rennard’s very proud daughter Rita Fischedick accepted his medals which included American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/1 silver service star, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal w/Germany Clasp, Honorable Service Lapel Button, Expert Badge w/Carbine Bar, Sharpshooter Badge w/Rifle bar.

SGT Walter Thomas, U.S. Army, Riverhead. Mr. Thomas received his medals for his WWII service from April 1946-May 1947. Mr. Thomas Medals included World War II Vitory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal w/Germany Clasp, National Defense Service Medal, Sharpshooter Badge w/Carbine Bar, Honorable Service Lapel Button, NYS Medal for Merit. 

PFC Louis Silverstone, U.S. Army, Port Jefferson Station. Mr. Silverstone received his medals for his service in WWII from April 1943-February 1946. Mr. Silverstone’s medals included a Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, European Aftican Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Honorable Service Lapel Button, NYS Medal for Merit.

Hiking, Biking, Fishing, Boating Available At Nissequogue River State Park

By Dana Klosner-Wehner

The Nissequogue River State Park is 521 acres of parkland nestled in Kings Park. It is a fairly new state park with the land being taken over from the office of mental health in the year 2000. The park has a rich history.  It is the former site of the Kings Park Psychiatric Center (many of the buildings  still exist on the park property) which treated up to 10,000 patients for mental illnesses.  Prior to that the site was a veteran’s hospital. Around the turn of the century the hospital cared for the injured from the World War I.*

Today the park offers fishing, hiking, soccer, bird watching, boating, model airplane flying and, in winter, snow shoeing and cross country skiing.

The park’s marina has 142 boat slips feeding into the Nissequogue River. You don’t need to have a slip to use the daytime boat ramp to launch your own boat. You can also bring canoes or kayaks.  

The 30 mile hiking path starts at Sunken Meadow State Park and goes all the way down to the South Shore at Heckshire State park.

If biking is more your style, there was just an extension put on to the bike path. The path is maintained by a partnership between the town and the state park. It begins at Main Street in Kings Park at the municipal parking at the library. It runs along the old railroad spur that follows the old route of the steam train that used to deliver coal to the power house on the old state hospital property. It continues on to the soccer field.

“What’s nice is it enables children to ride their bikes safely to play soccer,” said Bill Purtill, park manager. 

NYS Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick joined Nissequogue River State Park Foundation Members Mike Rosato, John McQuaid and Jack Hessel at NRSP On I Love My Park DayThere’s a lot for a bird watcher to see. There’s a bird pond on the left hand side of the administration building. You can spot Herons, Snowy Egrets, Blue Herons, Hawks, Ospreys, King Fisher Bird, Barn Owls, Screech Owls, Warblers and Finches. There’s a bird conservatory, where you can hide your view from the birds and take advantage of the peepholes provided to put your camera through and take pictures. 

Fishermen can keep busy as well with salt water fishing. You can catch Striped Bass, Porgies, Blackfish and Sea Bass among others.

There’s a lot of wildlife in the park. On any given day you might see foxes, white-tailed deer or turtles in the pond.**

If a guided tour is more your speed, you can take part in the environmental programs that the park will customize to your needs and take about two or three hours. 

There are tours in oceanography, tree identifications, sights and sounds of different wildlife and others. A Naturalist conducts these tours.  Call 631-581-1072 to set up a tour.

The park is very popular, boasting 115,000 visitors last year, all taken care of by approximately ten employees. 

View from a trail at the park“It provides a great day for a family outing,” Purtill said. “There’s a picnic area and a playground for the kids.” 

“I like to view this park as the people’s playground,” he continued.  “I appreciate when I hear feedback from people that have been here for the first time and leave with a new appreciation of the property that was once a hospital.”

There is an $8 usage fee per car for the park that is covered under the Empire State Passport. 

The Nissequogue River State Park Foundation will be hosting a fundraiser/5K Sunset Run at NRSP on May 31, 2014. Sunset 5K Run on May 31st at the park. Funds raised are used to support improvements at the park.

 *Corrected to reflect that WWI Veterans were treated not veterans from French/Indian war.

**Corrected to reflect the verifiable wildlife seen at the park.