EAST MEADOW, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — A new memorial honoring those who served in the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan is coming to Nassau County.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday at the Veterans Memorial Park inside Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, where the new memorial will be located.
"This is for Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. They could come here and they can reflect about their service, about the servicemembers and friends that they lost while they were overseas, and it's also for the families that lost servicemembers overseas and are still losing servicemembers to today," said Matthew Schmitt, an Army combat veteran. "I think a lot of guys are going to feel very emotional, but they're going to feel supported."
The monument will feature four marble walls flanking a battlefield cross.
"On the walls itself there's going to be a female soldier and male soldier on each side. What we're going to do also is have the hands extend out from the marble, 3D, towards the helmet, and there's going to be two more walls which is going to be the image of Iraq and one of Afghanistan," Schmitt said. "We're also going to have on that monument something with suicide prevention, like the ribbon."
Virginia Cervasio, with the organization Heroes Among Us, said the memorial will be an honor for all veterans.
"This just gives us another place to come, and reflect, and remember. I am so happy that the committee agreed to put the suicide awareness symbol included in this monument," said Cervasio, whose veteran son died by suicide at the age of 24. "Any kind of monument that honors them and respects them in any way it definitely is emotional."
Approximately 50,000 veterans call Nassau County home.
The groundbreaking was held on the 20th anniversary of troops being deployed to Afghanistan.
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