The American Legion, Little League teams, scouts, the fire and police departments and a fleet of bagpipe players marched up Plandome Road Monday en route to Manhasset High School for the annual Memorial Day Parade, to commemorate the armed servicemen and women who died defending America and her freedoms.
Once at the high school, members of the Manhasset Post 304 American Legion, boy and girl scouts as well as residents gathered in the theater for the reading of the Roll Call for Manhasset veterans who have died in the last year. That was followed by an awards ceremony honoring high school students for their academics, extracurricular activities and service, and nominating those who qualified for New York’s Empire Boys State and Empire Girls State programs, in which students gather at a week-long leadership seminar in which they form a 51st state and participate in mock political processes.
American Legion Vice Commander James Brooks presented the School Award to Manhasset High School’s Michael Riscica and St. Mary’s Matthew Davis.
Riscica is a member of the school’s National Honor Society and its marching band, and regularly participates in local jazz and theater productions, Brooks said.
“To be given this award on the merits of courage, service and achievement and patriotism is sentimental, as it means I have proven myself worthy as a scholar and citizen to men of the generation of my grandfather,” Riscica said. “It means I have proven myself to what men, including myself, call the greatest generation.”
Davis is a member of the National Honor Society, has participated in St. Mary’s clubs and sports, regularly volunteers with the American Cancer Society and helps raise funds for Relay for Life efforts, Brooks said.
This year’s Empire Boys State awards were presented to high school juniors Kevin Brady, Vincent de Venoge, Christopher Gentile, Bryan Herbert, Daniel Meyer and Steven Squillante, who will attend SUNY Morrisville for their conference in June.
Patricia O’Brien, the president of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 304, introduced Manhasset High School senior Alexa Giorgetti, also the school’s Poppy Queen, and St. Mary’s senior Jessica Gales as the recipients of this year’s Americanism awards.
Giorgetti, a Manhasset resident since she was a baby, has been on the high honor roll throughout her time at Manhasset High School. She is a member of the school’s National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society, has earned the Advanced Placement Scholar award with honors and is co-captain of the school’s softball team, O’Brien said. She has also been awarded for her volunteer work with local youth athletic organizations as well.
“They were called to be part of something bigger than themselves,” Giorgetti said of America’s veterans. “They were ordinary people responding in extraordinary ways during extreme times. They answered the call to protect the freedom that has given us so much…I encourage all of us today to follow the lead of our service members, to serve causes larger than ourselves and focus on serving others in our daily lives.”
Gales, Manhasset’s 2012 representative at Girls State, has achieved first honors for her academics at St. Mary’s since freshman year, is a member of National Honor Society and has been a Top 10 Student award recipient for the last two years, O’Brien said.
For the last three years, Gales has been honored for her academic achievements as a student athlete, captained a team at the school’s Sports Night competition, is the editor-in-chief of the school yearbook and is the student council vice president, O’Brien said. Gales is also a member of St. Mary’s Scholar Service Institute, a leadership organization that combines competitive academics with an increased attention on community service projects and has volunteered with various organizations across Long Island.
Gales plans to attend the University of Miami this fall to study pre-med, O’Brien said.
“My life after Girls State has been filled with so much pride, love and respect for the United States of America and for all the soldiers and figures who have positively impacted the history of it,” Gales said.
O’Brien also presented this year’s Empire Girls State award to St. Mary’s junior Lindsay Marrone. Marrone will participate in this year’s Empire Girls State event June 30-July 6 at The College of Brockport.
“She believes in the importance of being an involved citizen, and hopes that knowledge she gains at Girls State will help her to improve her community,” O’Brien said. “We are happy to sponsor Lindsay at this summer’s Empire Girls State.” Marrone has earned First Honors for her academics throughout high school, is a member of the school’s National Honor Society, the captain of its Mock Trial Team as well as a member of its Science Olympiad team, and writes for the school’s Web site, O’Brien said.
Marrone is also part of St. Mary’s Scholar Service Institute and volunteers throughout her parish community, O’Brien said.
Having taken an American History course this year, I have learned a great deal about our nation’s government and am looking forward to applying what I have learned in a practical way this summer,” Marrone said.
