Assemblymen Tom McKevitt (R,C,I-East Meadow), left, Rob Walker (R,C,I,WF – Hicksville), second from right, and David McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick), right, hosted a “Veterans Appreciation BBQ” this past Saturday at the Hicksville VFW. Assemblyman McDonough and his colleagues used this annual event to personally thank veterans for their service as well as a forum to discuss veterans’ affairs issues.

Pictured with Assemblymen McKevitt, Walker and McDonough is lifelong Levittown resident Shelly Okin (second from left) and Westbury resident Spann Watson (center). The two veterans were reunited at the BBQ after first having met in Lecce, Italy in 1944 when Mr. Okin and Mr. Watson were enlisted as a bombardier and a Tuskegee Airman, respectively.