BAY RIDGE — The 2024 Patriotism Award Luncheon celebrated individuals and organizations that have supported veterans’ issues at the Bay Ridge Manor on the afternoon of Nov. 10. 

Award recipients included Vietnam veterans Frank Fazzio and Frank Naccarato, Gold Star Mother Emily Toro and the 715th Veterans Association, a not-for-profit federally recognized veterans membership organization.   

“This is something I am extremely proud of,” Naccarato said, upon receiving his award. “Freedom is something that’s very fragile; it’s something that has to be worked at, protected and defended. Once it’s lost, you never get it back. We want future generations to leave this place a better world than we found it.” 

Fazzio noted that his award is “payback to everyone for the goodness I had in my life. And I will continue to keep going until I can’t anymore,” he said.    

Toro said she was humbled and honored to receive her award and said “everything I do I do for my son, and I will never forget him.” 

The event, which had approximately 150 people in attendance, included former State Sen. Marty Golden; James Hendon, commissioner of the New York City Department of Veterans’ Services; Col. Melissa Cantwell, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hamilton commander; Fran Vella-Marrone, Kings County Conservative Party chair; members of the Kiwanis Club of Bensonhurst and Bay Ridge (Albert Corhan, Scott Palma, Sal Anelli, President Bartolo Allegretti, Bill Boshell, Chip Cafiero and Frank Naccarato); and more. 

Raymond Aalbue, executive director of the United Military Veterans of Kings County, told the Brooklyn Eagle that the Patriotism Award is something that is indeed special and an accolade that must be earned. 

“We give it out to individuals and organizations that have been backers of issues pertaining to veterans, their brothers and sisters, the Memorial Day Parade and things of that nature,” Aalbue said. “I see this as a prequel to Veterans Day, giving veterans and guests a little pep in their step. Bringing everyone together today is a really special thing.” 

Aalbue noted that the Patriotism Award Luncheon began in 2001, “when two giants in the veteran community, Ed Cush and Joe Saia, had an idea to present a patriotism award for that year. Little did we know it would go on for so long. Today we have over 50 recipients.” 

Golden pointed out that this is not only an important event for the community but also for the city, state and nation.

“We have veterans here that have served in all wars over the years and great honorees that did a lot of work in our communities,” Golden said. “While people entering the service are down in numbers today, I believe that when they see something like this, they will bring it back to their friends and more and more will garner an interest.” 

Fran Vella-Marrone, Kings County Conservative Party chair, explained that on this day, it is a celebration of the people that gave us freedom.

“If it weren’t for them, we all couldn’t be here today,” Vella-Marrone said. “I thank a veteran every day for my freedom, and I’m so proud to be an American.”