CURRAN PRESENTS AWARDS TO LYNBROOK, EAST ROCKAWAY WINNERS OF THE 2016 FLAG DAY ART/ESSAY CONTEST

Picture 1: Assemblyman Brian Curran, Nassau County Legislator William Gaylor, Mayor Bill Hendrick, Trustees Ann Marie Reardon and Michael Hawxhurst stand with 2016 Lynbrook 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.”

Picture 2: Assemblyman Brian Curran, East Rockaway Deputy Mayor Theresa Gaffney, East Rockaway Trustees Richard Billello, Gordon Fox, and Steven Fried stand with 2016 East Rockaway Flag Day Contest winners and runners-up at Greis Park.

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 Lynbrook included: Kindergarten Winner Nicolette Raynor of the Kindergarten Center, Kindergarten Runner-up Franki McCartney of the Kindergarten Center, First Grade Winner Daniel Carrano of Waverly Park Elementary School, First Grade Runner-up Lauren Comegna of Waverly Park Elementary School, Second Grade Winner Cooper Cordes of Waverly Park Elementary School, Second Grade Winner Gianna Marafioti of Marion Street Elementary School, Second Grade Runner-up Anthony Caputo of Marion Street, Third Grade Winner Mila Sokolskiy of Waverly Park Elementary School, Third Grade Winner Kate Hannon of Our Lady of Peace School, Fourth Grade Winner Brady Reis of Marion Street Elementary School, Fourth Grade Runners-up Gianara Nieves, Noah Frances, Leanne Lazo, and Kira Vilus of Our Lady of Peace School, Fourth Grade Runner-up Nora Kane of Marion Street, Fifth Grade Winner Mairead Nealon of Our Lady of Peace Elementary School, Fifth Grade Winner Chloe Milukas of Marion Street Elementary School, Fifth Grade Runner-up Morgan Grismer of Our Lady of Peace Elementary School, Fifth Grade Runner-up Kate Chiulli of Marion Street, Fifth Grade Runner-up Lauren Berkowitz of Waverly Park Elementary School, and Sixth Grade Winner Randell Wilson of Our Lady of Peace School.

This year’s winners from East Rockaway included: Kindergarten winner Bryce Boccio of Centre Avenue School, Kindergarten Runner-up Kylee Kulins of Centre Avenue School, First Grade Runner-up Steven James of Centre Avenue School, Second Grade Winner Vincent Pedi of Centre Avenue School, Second Grade Runner-up Cameron Peeples of Centre Avenue School, Third Grade Winner Chrystal Anatalio of Centre Avenue School, Third Grade Runner-up Grace Sommer of Centre Avenue School, Third Grade runner-up Annalise Alvarez of St. Raymond’s School, Fourth Grade Winner Lauren Sandoval of Centre Avenue School, Fourth Grade Winner Courtney Gaffney of St. Raymond’s School, Fourth Grade Runner-up Lindsey Kupfer of Centre Avenue School, Fifth Grade Winner Luke McNally of Centre Avenue School, Fifth Grade Runner-up Safiya Lawrence of Centre Avenue School, Sixth Grade Winner Isabella Scarfer of Centre Avenue School, Sixth Grade Runner-up Madeline Mistretta of Centre Avenue School, and Sixth Grade Runner-up Joseph Carinci of St Raymond’s 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, Joseph McCarthy, member of East Rockaway VFW, and Superintendent of Lynbrook Melissa Burak.

###