By Courtney Dentch
About 35 veterans from around Queens were presented with state medals and awards owed to them for their service in military conflicts going back to World War II at a ceremony at the St. Albans Veterans Hospital last Thursday.
The ceremony is held twice a year by state Sens. Serphin Maltese (R-Glendale) and Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans) to honor the former servicemen and women who earned various state awards but had not received them, said Lester Muse, veterans liaison for Smith’s office.
“These awards are well-merited and long-awaited,” Maltese said. “This is a tribute to the Second World War veterans and all the subsequent veterans.”
Veterans who earned awards from the federal level often are eligible to receive state awards, including the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross, the Conspicuous Service Star, the state Medal for Merit, the state Certificate for Valor and others. Many of the vets, however, do not know about the awards or how to file the paperwork to get them, said Max Weiner, a World War II veteran from Bayside.
“It’s about time,” he said of the Jubilee of Liberty Commemorative Medal he was given, which is awarded to soldiers who participated in the Normandy campaign. “Not everyone was aware of this event and these medals. I’ve been waiting to get mine for a year.”
The ceremony, marked with patriotic songs and words of appreciation, was the ninth held by Maltese and Smith. About 500 Queens veterans have been awarded honors, said Maltese, himself a Korean War veteran.
“We will seek to get all the medals and awards that are due to the individual veterans,” he said.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg was also on hand to congratulate the recipients. Bloomberg stressed the importance of sending U.S. troops abroad, a lesson he first learned as he watched the Korean War as a young boy with his father, he said.
“I remember my father explaining to me why America was fighting overseas, and I remember him telling me how important it was that America defend those people overseas,” Bloomberg said.
And although some people may have forgotten the sacrifices made by veterans, the awards ceremony is just one way to recognize their efforts, Smith said.
“It’s important to me that each and every day I’m doing something for our veterans,” he said. “This is the most important event for me because we’re committed to honoring each and every one of our veterans.”
Among those was Ramsay Craft, a naval electrician from Kew Gardens who served overseas in World War II and on the home front during the Korean War, he said.
“I’m entitled to so many medals after 57 years,” Craft said of the five awards he received. “I’m going to put them in a box with all my ribbons.”
But medals only go so far toward showing appreciation, Bloomberg said.
“It’s hard to know how to say thank you to people who put their lives at risk for others,” the mayor said. “Our country has to make sure that we don’t forget those who went overseas.”
State Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D-Rockaway Beach) found one way.
“Thank you for letting us be free.”
Reach reporter Courtney Dentch by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com, or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.
