Memorial Day 2023: Remembering The Fallen

AMANDA OLSEN aolsen@antonmediagroup.com

Ken Kraft, a Vietnam veteran and member of the Port Washington VFW and American Legion post 336, is working hard to preserve the memory of those who were lost and uplift those who remain. “In this day and age, with so much negativity everywhere, we should take a moment to realize how fortunate so many of us Americans are and appreciate what our veterans have done to preserve our way of life,” Kraft said.

Kraft lost many friends from Port Washington and Manhasset in Vietnam. He and his friend Bill Manfredonia created a graphic honoring some of these soldiers. “Three of these soldiers were in Paul D. Schreiber High School with me. Bill Polchow and Rich Ferguson were in my Class of ‘63, while Bobby Zwerlein was in the Class of ‘64. Bruce Eliot (of Manhasset) was a volunteer fireman with me at Flower Hill Hose Company back in the mid ‘60s. Francis Trinchitella I believe was in the Class of ‘68. All of these men are on the Wall at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. These young men, all aged 20 to 26, died serving the country they loved, and I wanted to acknowledge their efforts.” Kraft said.

Another way Kraft is keeping the flame is through a small museum at Post 336. In 2013, he and another post member, Joe

Brandes, upgraded the trophy case on the lower level to house military paraphernalia from the Civil War to the War on Terror. These artifacts were donated by members and their friends and neighbors. The collection includes many personal items from World War II, Korea and Vietnam. There are uniforms, equipment, and ephemera on display. The museum is free and open to the public by appointment.