Celebrating Independence Day With Heroes

Supervisor Kate Murray and the town board paid tribute to Hempstead's veterans in a patriotic celebration of the nation's independence that coincided with the one-year anniversary of the closing of Town Hall's veterans booth by New York State.

One year later, town officials and veterans celebrated their shared victory in preserving access to veterans counseling services at Town Hall with the successful re-opening of the booth. Joining the supervisor and hundreds of veterans were Hempstead town board members, officials from the Military Order of the Purple Heart and members of the public.

"The proud veterans whom we honored at a festive reception delivered on the promise of 'the land of the free,' and they embody the 'home of the brave,'" Murray said. "On the eve of Independence Day, we're celebrating not only our brave veterans, but also our special victory over Governor Paterson and the New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs decision to close the veterans booth at Hempstead Town Hall."

When the governor announced his decision last June, town officials rallied and collected hundreds of signatures in opposition to the closure of the veterans booth. The decision forced veterans to travel to the nearest state facilities in St. Albans or Northport to access similar services.

Answering the town's call for help, the Military Order of the Purple Heart and a veterans counselor for the order, Rick Gales, volunteered to staff the veterans booth every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Under Gales' tenure, the number of vets receiving counseling at Town Hall has increased tenfold. What's more, in the first six months of activity, Gales secured over $520,000 in benefits for Hempstead's veterans.

"We are thrilled by our partnership with the Military Order of the Purple Heart, an organization with an impressive record of service to fellow veterans," senior councilman Anthony Santino said. "Since the Town Hall booth has re-opened, we have actually enhanced services to veterans."

Thanking National Service Officer Gales for his instrumental role in spearheading the re-opened Town Hall counseling site, Murray awarded the town's prestigious Veterans Medal to Rick Gales in a surprise presentation that recognized his tireless service and unending dedication to fellow veterans.

"Rick Gales is a hero to our veterans and our town," Murray said. "I am proud to award Rick with the Veterans Service Medal as we celebrate our independence with Hempstead's veterans community."

In addition to the special presentation of the Veterans Medal, the patriotic celebration featured music by the Levittown Brass and Percussion, a performance by the Levittown PAL twirlers, a visit by the Patriot Guard Riders and a presentation of the colors by the Nassau County American Legion.

"Thank you to our veterans for all you have done and congratulations on your latest victory to secure the deserved and needed veterans counseling center at Hempstead Town Hall," Murray concluded. "Were it not for the courage and dedication of our great veterans, we would not enjoy the extraordinary benefit of living in peace and freedom today."