The new Longwood Veterans monument at Bartlett Pond Park was unveiled by Ridge resident Maria Wiener and Coram resident Virginia Eagle on Saturday, June 16th, 2012. Mrs. Eagle is the widow of James Eagle, the WWII Navy veteran whose tale of surviving the attack on Pearl Harbor started the Longwood Veterans History Project in the late 1990s. Mrs. Wiener is the widow of Jeffrey L. Wiener, who was killed in action in Iraq on May 7, 2005. The ladies were escorted to the monument by returning service men Anthony Coluccio and Matthew Cotter. Bagpiper Mike Meehan, a Suffolk County Police Officer, performed “Amazing Grace” as the stone was revealed. The beautiful red granite stone honors all Longwood military men and women who’ve protected us in The Global War on Terror, from Operation Desert Storm through Enduring Freedom. More than 200 names were etched in place when the monument was installed earlier in the week by expert Tom Fricke. A crowd of nearly 1,000 enjoyed a gorgeous day for the ceremony, which featured songs, speeches, and wreath placement at the monuments by our five Longwood fire departments. Individual honorees, or their family representatives, were called forward and received eagle-emblazoned medals, Longwood Veterans’ caps and copies of the student-compiled veterans biography collection. A proud day for Longwood, a proud day for Middle Island, and a proud day for our great park!
