LI vets from Iraq, Afghanistan to be honored at Museum of American Armor on Saturday
Long Island veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will be honored in Nassau this weekend.
News 12 Staff
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Sep 17, 2021, 7:43 PM
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Updated 975 days ago
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8h agoLong Island veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will be honored in Nassau this weekend.
President Joe Biden pulled the American troops out of Afghanistan about a month ago after 20 years of battle. Some of those who fought in that war will be honored on Long Island for the first time on Saturday.
The Museum of American Armor will host what is believed to be the nation’s first-ever community program honoring those who fought in the war on terror.
The event will start at 11:30 a.m. and be held in what the museum calls the Church Field, which has tanks and trucks from America’s past wars.
Sept. 11, 2001 is a day that left many in shock and disbelief. For some like 1st Sgt. John O'Dougherty, who had served as a Marine for 10 years before taking 18 years off, it jolted them into action.
"Well, I lost a lot of friends on 9/11 and actually I watched the second plane come in, and it was something that I just, I just couldn't get out of my mind for a long time, and I just felt that I hadn't finished what maybe I had started in the military, maybe it was time to go back," O'Dougherty says.
Sandy Seitz's son Rick has served three tours overseas: two in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. She says it was also on 9/11 when he made his decision to fight for the country.
"My son was a senior in high school when the twin towers went down, and my father was Air Force. So, he determined at that time that he would join the service and defend the country," Seitz says.
Both O'Dougherty and Seitz feel the event is necessary for those who have put their lives on the line for the past two decades.
"At the end of Vietnam, a lot of guys felt the strains and weren't treated right. I just don't want to see that happen to global war on terror vets," O'Dougherty says.
"Our veterans and our military, our active duty, they really need to know that they're supported on the homefront," Seitz says.
New York state Attorney General Letitia James, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran and former Rep. Peter King are expected to attend Saturday's event.
