East
Northport – In partnership with local Long Island veterans groups, the Town of
Huntington and Covanta Huntington hosted a ceremony Friday, June 14 in honor of
Flag Day, announcing the kick-off of a program promoting and facilitating the
proper disposal of American flags that are no longer in service.
Dan
Caraccio, Covanta Vice President, General Manager and Veterans Ambassador,
stated, “Covanta is honored to continue its flag retirement program in support
of local veteran groups on Long Island. This important service helps to ease
the significant burden they face in providing reverent disposal for an abundant
amount of flags. As an organization, we are committed to supporting our
nation’s veterans who account for 15 percent of Covanta’s workforce.”
Huntington
Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci stated: “We are fortunate to live in a country
filled with freedom and opportunity -- values that our American Flag represents
and that our veterans have dedicated their lives to uphold. America is truly an
extraordinary country; our veterans and our American Flag remind us of this
exceptionalism. As we join together today, let us celebrate the history and
preserve the traditions, pride, and respect of our nation's symbol, the
American Flag.”
Representing
the Town of Huntington along with co-host Supervisor Lupinacci were Councilman
Mark Cuthbertson, Councilwoman Joan Cergol, Councilman Edmund J.M. Smyth, Town
Clerk Jo-Ann Raia, Deputy Town Clerk Stacy Colamussi, Superintendent of
Highways Kevin S. Orelli, Receiver of Taxes Jillian Guthman, Veterans Advisory
Board Treasurer Bob Santo acting as Master of Ceremonies, Veterans Advisory
Board members, Director of Human Services Carmen Kasper, and Veterans Affairs
Coordinator Carol Rocco.
Speakers
included County Executive Steve Bellone, Smithtown Supervisor Edward Wehrheim,
Legislator Susan A. Berland, who also serves as Chairwoman of the Committee on
Veteran Affairs, Thomas Ronayne, Director of the Suffolk County Veterans
Services Agency, and Major General (Retired) U.S. Army Anthony Kropp.
Suffolk
County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon also attended the program along with hundreds of
veterans from all branches of the U.S. Military, including nine World War II
veterans; eight male and one female.
Essay
Contest winner Cristina Vieytez read her poem, “What the American Flag means to
me.” Art Mural Awards were presented to Commack High School Principal Leslie
Boritz; Harborfields High School Art Teacher Elizabeth Devaney; Huntington High
School Principal Brenden Cusack; and Smithtown High School Art Teacher Steven
Halem.
The
ceremony culminated in a proper flag folding and retirement ceremony with a
rifle salute from the Huntington Marine Corps League, follow by the sounding of
Taps by Jack Cascone and a performance of America the Beautiful by the Commack
High School Chorus. Chaplain Charlie Tritto of American Legion Post #1244 in
Greenlawn, offered words from the powerful patriotic story, Mike’s Flag.
Proper
flag disposal is a challenge that many veteran groups face. The ceremony marks
the formal culmination of Covanta’s year-round efforts to support local veteran
groups in collecting old, unserviceable American flags that are no longer in
use. The Covanta Huntington Energy-from-Waste facility provides
environmentally-safe waste management services to the Town of Huntington.
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