CURRAN PRESENTS AWARDS TO VALLEY STREAM WINNERS OF THE 2016 FLAG DAY ART/ESSAY CONTEST

Assemblyman Brian Curran, Valley Stream Mayor Ed Fare, and Nassau County Legislator William Gaylor stand with 2016 Valley Stream Flag Day Contest winners and runners-up at Greis Park.

Assemblyman Brian Curran (Lynbrook-21st AD) recently honored the winners of his annual Flag Day Art and Essay Contest at Greis Park in Lynbrook. Over 300 kids participated in this year’s contest.

“I am so proud of the children who participated in this year’s contest,” said Curran. “They showed true passion and patriotism for our American Flag, and exemplified this community’s dedication to raising civically-engaged children. Along with the 300 children who participated, I want to give a special thanks to our veterans who willingly gave up their morning to be judges. It is important to honor the symbol of our freedom as well as the individuals who have fought in our country’s armed forces. Today’s event not only represents an opportunity to give thanks, but also to remind ourselves of how fortunate we are to live in a country free from tyranny.”

Schools entered in the contest include: Robert W. Carbonaro School, Brooklyn Avenue School, and William L. Buck School in Valley Stream; St. Christopher’s School in Baldwin; Centre Avenue Elementary School and St. Raymond’s School in East Rockaway; Waverly Park Elementary School, the Kindergarten Center, Marion Street Elementary School, Our Lady of Peace School, and West End Elementary School in Lynbrook; Davison Avenue Intermediate School, Maurice Downing School, Howard T. Herber Middle School and Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School in Malverne; St. Thomas the Apostle School in West Hempstead; Ogden Elementary School and Hewlett Elementary School in Hewlett; and William S. Covert Elementary School in Rockville Centre.

Students from kindergarten to sixth grade were eligible to enter the contest. This year’s winners from Valley Stream included: Kindergarten Winner Lorena Sanchez of William L. Buck School, Kindergarten Runner-up Olivia Krawiel of William L. Buck School, First Grade Winner Ava Ricci of Robert W. Carbonaro School, First Grade Winner Antonio Leo of William L. Buck School, First Grade Runner-up Daniel Jallim of Robert W. Carbonaro School, First Grade Runner-up: Zoe Weiner of William L. Buck School, Second Grade Winner Abigail Inniss of Robert W. Carbonaro School, Second Grade Runner-up Valerie Morales of Robert W. Carbonaro School, Second Grade Runner-up Briana Ochoa of Brooklyn Avenue School, Third Grade Winner Cedrize Bramble of Robert W. Carbonaro School, Third Grade Winner Anais Rosado of William L. Buck School, Third Grade Runner-up Vincent Vermilye of Robert W. Carbonaro School, Third Grade Runner-up Hannah Wallach of Brooklyn Avenue School, Third Grade Runner-up Gabriella Badolato of William L. Buck School, Fourth Grade Winner Brianna Ramirez of William L. Buck School, Fourth Grade Runner-up Mikayla Wheeler of William L. Buck School, Fifth Grade Winner Caitlin Flanagan of Robert W. Carbonaro School, Fifth Grade Winner Kirstin Rogawski of William L. Buck School, Fifth Grade Winner Samantha Belliard of Brooklyn Avenue School, Fifth Grade Runner-up Jeanne Correa of William L. Buck School, Sixth Grade Winner Megan Ward of Robert W. Carbonaro School, Sixth Grade Winner Ariana Velez of William L. Buck School, Sixth Grade Winner Joe Kelly of Brooklyn Ave School, Sixth Grade Runner-up Matthew Wallach of Brooklyn Avenue School, Sixth Grade Runner-up Lianm Gattis of William L. Buck School, and Sixth Grade Runner-up Brianna Gonsalves of Robert W. Carbonaro School.

All winners received a New York State Assembly Certificate of Merit, an American Flag and a Carvel ice cream gift certificate. Curran has held this event every year he has been a member of the New York State Assembly. This year’s contest posed the question: What does the American Flag mean to me?

Family and friends from the community attended the event to commemorate the American Flag. The ceremony featured the color guard unit from the Lynbrook American Legion, Lynbrook American Legion Commander Hank Speicher, and Alexa Ford, a Kellenberg graduate who performed the National Anthem. Also in attendance were Pat Nealon, Commander of Lynbrook VFW and Joseph McCarthy, member of East Rockaway VFW.

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