CURRAN PRESENTS AWARDS TO MALVERNE, WEST HEMPSTEAD WINNERS OF THE 2016 FLAG DAY ART/ESSAY CONTEST

Picture #1: Assemblyman Brian Curran, Malverne Mayor Patti McDonald, and Deputy Mayor Patricia Fitzgerald stand with 2016 Malverne 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 and Nassau County Legislator William Gaylor stand with 2016 West Hempstead 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 Malverne included: Kindergarten Winner Reagan Cruz of Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School, Kindergarten Runner-up Kaeleigh Gildea of Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School, First Grade Winner Valentina Pisniello of Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School, First Grade Runner-up Sean Gildea of Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School, Second Grade Winner Emma McDermott of Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School, Second Grade Winner Makiyah Harris of Maurice Downing School, Second Grade Runner-up Carmine Masaracchia of Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School, Third Grade Winner Abigail Guiheen of Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School, Third Grade Runner-up Valentino Guerriero of Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School, Fourth Grade Winner Ariana Ruano of Davison Ave School, Fourth Grade Runner-up Isis Jenkins of Davison Avenue Intermediate School, Fifth Grade Runner-up Dylan Gaffey of Davison Avenue School, Sixth Grade Winner Kayla George of Howard T. Herber Middle School, Sixth Grade Winner Mary Kate Raleigh of Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School, Sixth Grade Runner-up Caden Moran of Howard T. Herber Middle School, and Sixth Grade Runner-up Faith Wladyka of Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School.

This year’s winners from West Hempstead were Third Grader Christina Callahan and Third Grade Runner-up Shannon Pulis, both of whom attend St. Thomas the Apostle 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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