On Thursday, Aug. 8, state Assembly Member Ed Ra welcomed veterans from the 19th District and their guests to a patriotic picnic at VFW Post No. 2718 on Franklin Square.

Veterans were welcomed with complimentary food and fellowship.
Joining Ra in honoring the veterans were Ragini Srivastava, Town of North Hempstead town clerk; Elaine Phillips, Nassau County comptroller; John Giuffre, Nassau County legislator; Jeanine Driscoll, Town of Hempstead receiver of taxes; and Thomas Muscarella, Town of Hempstead councilman.

The program included a rendition of the National Anthem performed by Norman Jardine and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Peter Gong.

The POW/MIA remembrance ceremony was conducted by Dominic Petrucelli. The picnic featured food prepared by the Bar-B-Que Boyz, with dessert donated by Red Mango in Franklin Square.

Boy Scout Troop No. 93 assisted with the setup, service and cleanup. Troop Leader Bob Murawski, and scouts Robert Meisl, Tristan Dand, Michael Talbot, John Gapper, Jake Dugan, Dylan Deede, John Fuzesi, and Eoin McManamy-Ost demonstrated their commitment to community service throughout the event.

“Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate—and more importantly, to show support for—our local heroes this year,” Ra said in a press release. “Supporting our veterans is not just a one-day event or tied to a single holiday, it’s a year-round commitment to ensuring they receive the services they need. The continued enthusiasm and participation this event receives each year is a testament to our community’s deep respect and care for our veterans.”

“A special thank you to VFW Post 2718 for hosting and to the scouts from Boy Scout Troop 93, who were invaluable in making the day run smoothly,” Ra said. “It was a pleasure to come together once again for good food and even better conversation.”