SERVING BETHPAGE, OLD BETHPAGE, AND PLAINVIEW Cruise-through Toy Drive benefits children in need Hix veteran receives achievement award

BY GARY SIMEONE

East Meadow resident Vincent Morreale received a very special achievement this past Monday from Nassau County and Town of Oyster Bay officials. Morreale, who served in the Air Force from 1964-1968, and saw action in the Vietnam War, is a longtime member of the Hicksville VFW 3211 Post. The 77 year-old received the prestigious honor of the Town of Oyster Bay’s 2023 Veterans Lifetime Achievement Award.

Morreale said he is not one to seek awards but was very proud of the honor that was given to him at the ceremony.

“It was a very nice ceremony and I appreciate the recognition from the County and the Town of

Oyster Bay,” said Morreale. “In all my years being a member of the VFW in Hicksville, the Town has always been good to the veterans and (Nassau County) Legislator, Rose Walker, has been a stalwart at all of our events to help us.” Morreale, who saw action in the Vietnam War, said that as a disabled veteran returning home from war, it was hard to assimilate back into society.

“There were so many disabled vets coming back and for a long time many of us had to relearn and navigate the system. Many were dealing with the effects of Agent Orange and many had PTSD, so that made things even more problematic.”

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On Saturday, July 15, New York State Senator Steve Rhoads hosted his Inaugural CruiseThrough Christmas in July Toy Drive at the Hicksville Train Station to benefit local children in need. New York State Senator Steve Rhoads teamed up with Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, the Oyster Bay Town Board, Legislator Rose Walker, and Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz in hopes of spreading holiday cheer all throughout the year by collecting toys for the USMC Toys for Tots and King Fights Cancer. Toys for Tots is an organization that specializes in providing less fortunate children with books and toys, and King Fights Cancer is a volunteer based non-profit organization that specializes in supporting families that have a child diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Community members were able to give back to those in need in a simple and easy way by driving up, dropping off their toy donations, and driving away. Martino Auto Concepts from Glen Gove brought a colorful Ferrari for the community to enjoy and Boy Scout Troop 291 from Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church as well as United States Marines were on hand to help collect the toys. Hundreds of toys were collected and will be donated to children at Cohen’s Children

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