Wantagh Veterans Day Ceremony 2019 And Memorial Unveiling: PHOTOS

WANTAGH, NY — The Wantagh community gathered Monday morning at Triangle Park to honor Veterans Day and unveil a new World War I memorial. Local government officials joined members of the Wantagh American Legion Post 1273, as well as local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts chapters to salute who served their country in war or peace, whether they're alive or dead. It's largely meant to thank living veterans for their sacrifices.

"We are here to honor all who served in their nation in the armed forces in the United States of America," the commander of the legion told a crowd of about 150. "Secondly, we hare here to dedicate this reconstructed monument honoring the men from Wantagh who served in the armed forces during World War I."

The ceremony paused to honor the armistice that ended fighting at the eleventh hour of Nov. 11, 1918. The American Legion commander rang a symbolic bell 11 times to mark the day, as members bowed their heads and removed their caps.

Laura Curran, the county executive, attended the ceremony, as did, New York Assemblyman Dave McDonough, county Legislator Steve Rhoads and Town of Hempstead Council Elect Chris Carini were among those in attendance.

The Wantagh American Legion Pipe Band also performed a few songs during the ceremony, including "Amazing Grace" and "God Bless America."

Tom Watson, president of the Wantagh Preservation Society, told the crowd the group was invited to help unveil the reconstructed World War I memorial. The original memorial was installed in 1919, he said, and placed on the other side of the railroad tracks near the Bank of America parking lot.

"We wanted to bring it back as close as possible to where it once stood," he said, referring to Triangle Park.

"It's near the tracks, it's near the flag pole, so that's why this site was chosen," he said.

The memorial lists the Wantagh men who served in World War I. The organization does not know what became of the original memorial, which was made of wood and likely deteriorated over time. The new memorial was reconstructed to be as close as possible to the original using photos of the original.

The new memorial includes the inscription,"Their country found them ready." It also includes the name Bergen Seaman, with a star next to his name to indicate he was killed in France during the war. Seaman's body was returned to the United States and he is buried in Greenfield Cemetery. His childhood home still stands in Wantagh.

Curran thanked veterans for protecting the nation's freedoms and asked the community to never take them for granted.

"If you look around the world right now, this Democracy is incredibly rare and incredibly precious," she said. "We have the right to pick our leaders. We have the freedom of religion. We have the freedom of the press. We do not have to march in lockstep with any ideology."

McDonough called Veterans Day a day for reflection, celebration and gratitude.

"Our nation's armed forces have delivered us victories that have changed the course of human history," he said. "They have protected us from enemies in every corner of the globe."

Below is a live stream of the event, as well as a photo roundup.