A Solemn Show of Gratitude

The Center was alive with the sound of music as the Tour Choir serenaded patients and guests with patriotic tunes at an early Veterans Day ceremony on Wednesday.

Following the Pledge of Allegiance, led by World War II U.S. Army veteran Rocco Vallone, the Northport students led off the ceremony with the National Anthem and ended with God Bless America as several veterans stood and saluted.

Assemb. Andrew Raia, R- Northport, County Executive Steve Levy and Trustee Tom Kehoe were in attendance and expressed their gratitude to veterans.

"Without you, our country would not be the shining city on the hill that it is today," Levy said.

Raia urged the high school students to voice their gratitude when they see a soldier. "Stop and thank them for their service. It will mean a lot to them," he said.

Kehoe, whose son recently returned from active duty, said that American citizens can't repay the debt we owe to our soldiers. "We stand on your shoulders and we're proud to do it, so thank you," he said.

The keynote speaker was Dorine Kenney, the founder of Jacob's Light, a foundation which honors her son, SPC. Jacob S. Fletcher, who was a paratrooper with the 173rd Airborne Brigade out of Vicenza Italy.

"He was one of the thousand paratroopers to parachute into Northern Iraq on March 26th of 2003," she said. "My life changed eight months later, on November 14th, when I got the devastating knock on my door telling me my only child Jacob had been killed."

Before his death. Jacob requested a care package for a fellow soldier who either didn't have family or whose family did not send him things. She said it was her honor to do so and she was proud of her son for his feelings of empathy.

After his death, she found more soldiers who needed care packages and began making it her mission to collect items or letters or cards and send them to the soldiers.

Jacob's Light Foundation was born and not only gave her an outlet for her grief, still very visible even seven years later, the organization has sent nearly 400,000 pounds of supplies: food, toiletries, reading and writing materials, letters and other items to the deployed troops.

Wednesday was also the 235th anniversary of the founding of the the United States Marine Corps and to honor that day, a cake was served. As is tradition, the cake was cut with a sword and the oldest present Marine, Robert Benincasa, received the first piece. He then gives it to the youngest present Marine. In this case Sal Thomas, a new Northport VAMC staff member.

A new outdoor Splashes of Hope mural, depicting a Long Island beach scene, was also revealed near the entry of the Building 92 Bellia Atrium

Huntington-based Splashes of Hope  paints murals at medical and social service facilities around the country.FounderHeather Buggee said she hopes the scene would bring the beach to those who are unable to visit the beach in person