Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello recently stopped by the home of WWII veteran Ray Vaz to extend his best wishes to the war hero and thank the organizers who helped arrange transportation to the Javits Center for the 96-year old to receive both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Mr. Vaz, of Mineola, honorably served our country and saw intense action, including D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded twice, earning purple hearts, once while storming the beaches at Normandy and again while fighting in France, and ultimately helped liberate the Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany.
“Ray is a true American hero who might not have had the opportunity to get the vaccine if it wasn’t for the assistance and generosity provided by the Mineola Chamber of Commerce, Warriors for a Cause and All Island Transportation” Presiding Officer Nicolello said. “It is wonderful to see the community come together to assist Ray.”
Shown in photograph above, left to right: Warriors for a Cause Treasurer Roy DiMarco, Warriors for a Cause Chairman and Immediate Past President of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce Tony Lubrano, WWII Veteran Ray Vaz, Mineola Chamber of Commerce Vice President Lou Panacciulli, Mineola Chamber of Commerce President Joel Harris and Presiding Officer Nicolello.