An incredibly profound honor, and one that is exceedingly rare nowadays, is that of meeting a D-Day Veteran and thanking him for his service.
On June 6, 1944, eighty years ago this past week, Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, in what would lay the foundation for the liberation of France and an Allied victory on the Western Front. To date, the operation is the largest seaborne invasion in history.
As the average age of these surviving Veterans is now 100 years old, the opportunity to honor these heroes is becoming more and more scarce each year.
However, the Long Island State Veterans Home (LISVH) in Stony Brook has two D-Day Veterans in their regular care, and both were honored on the eightieth anniversary of D-Day.
Corporal David Wolman (pictured above), U.S. Army Air Corps, 412th Air Service Group, 8th Air Service Force, 100th Bomber Group, awoke at 4:00a.m. for the D-Day invasion. He worked for seventy-two consecutive hours and was frequently the last voice airmen heard as their B-17 bombers took off from the runways. Corporal Wolman is the recipient of the World War II Victory Medal, the American Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Distinguished Unit Badge, and the Liberty Medal.
After the war, Wolman worked as a Broadway accounting clerk and joined the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in its inaugural year in 1959. Wolman originally lived with his wife Gladys and daughter Nancy in Brooklyn, before moving to Centereach in 1964.
Wolman, now 102 years old, has been a resident of LISVH since 2021.
“David, please know how honored we are to care for you here at the Long Island State Veterans Home,” said LISVH Executive Director Fred Sganga.
Private Frank Agoglia (pictured above), U.S. Army, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division, was inducted into the Army on May 11, 1943 and sought active duty one week later. Agoglia flew into France in a wooden glider, attempting to land troops behind German lines on the beach. Without any engines, the mission was incredibly dangerous, as the gliders were prime targets of anti-aircraft gunfire defending the beaches, and since the gliders had no runways or strips at which to land. Half of Agoglia’s men were killed as they landed behind enemy lines.
Agoglia would glide again into battle, this time in Holland just three months later. The mission was to secure a bridge that would allow Allied troops quick entry into Germany.
Agoglia is the recipient of the Purple Heart, the European, African, Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with two bronze stars, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Distinguished Unit Badge.
Agoglia returned home and joined the NYPD in 1947, retiring in 1980. Frank and his wife raised four children in Deer Park. Agoglia, now 100 years old, has eleven children and eleven great-grandchildren. Agoglia has been a resident of LISVH since 2023.
“Frank, we’re so proud that you’re here with us today and we’re so proud to provide you with the care that you certainly deserve as a World War II Veteran on D-Day,” said Sganga.
The event’s keynote speaker was John King, Jr., Chancellor of the SUNY System. King spoke of the strides that SUNY makes in supporting Veterans, before, during, and after service.
“We make special efforts and create special pipelines to recruit Veteran students and to serve them well,” said King. “Our military line students get tailored support from academic advising to onsite childcare. They can have their military experience reviewed for college credit and eligibility, saving significant time and money toward graduation.”
“As I stand here today, I am deeply moved by the quiet heroism that surrounds us. A heroism born of a generation that doesn’t often speak about what they did, but whose acts and contributions are profoundly felt by the world,” King continued. “I stand here in awe of what you did, and what so many residents here did, a world away, at such a young age, for this nation.”
Followed by King was Viviana DeCohen, U.S. Marine Corps, Commissioner of the New York State Division of Veterans’ Services. In addition to delivering remarks, DeCohen represented Governor Kathy Hochul (D) at the event. She remarked on General Eisenhower’s words to the troops before the invasion:
“You are about to embark on heartening this Great Crusade. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hope, prayers, and the liberty of loving people everywhere march with you. Your task will not be an easy one. Our home front has given us overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained and fierce fighting men The tide has turned. The free men of the world are marching together in victory. I have full confidence in your courage, your devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory.”
DeCohen then dissected the etymology of the word “service,” showcasing that the classical definition of the world implies prevailing through suffering.
“The etymology of the word service means to prevail as in pain, steady pain, long-lasting pain,” said DeCohen. “It also means to hit, to batter, and to smite. Those are old ideas and regimes of what service looks like and of what it means. It means that while others have slept, you have walked the floor, you have put your own comforts on the back burners that others may sleep. It means that when you had a restless night, others were sleeping in somber. It means that you have done exactly what the military motto is, to ‘embrace the suck and do it anyway.’ Your service is what we are standing atop today.”
Agoglia and Wolman were then issued proclamations on behalf of the State and Suffolk County. State proclamations were given on behalf of Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk), Senator Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue), Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R-Medford), and Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson Station). A proclamation was also given on behalf of Congressman Nick LaLota (R, NY-01).
Ryan Johnson, a representative for the NYPD Detectives Endowment Association, delivered a proclamation for Agoglia’s service in the department after his service in Europe. Wolman was also made an honorary detective.
Marcelle Leis, retired Chief Master Sergeant of the U.S. Air Force and NY Air National Guard, and current Director of the Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency, issued proclamations on behalf of Suffolk County and County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches). Leis was accompanied by Majority Leader Nick Caracappa (C-Selden) and Legislator Chad Lennon (R-Rocky Point), Chair and Vice Chair of the Veterans Committee, respectively.
“On behalf of 1.5 million residents of Suffolk County, it is an honor to be here,” said Leis before reading the proclamations.
After proclamations were issued, candles were lit at the base of a folded American flag, one that flew at the Calverton National Cemetery on the seventy-fifth anniversary of D-Day. The flag was then thrown on sacred ground at the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach on June 6, 2019. Upon its return home to Suffolk County, the flag was raised at the Armed Forces Plaza at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge.
“This day-to-day flag is hereby placed on permanent display at the Armed Forces Plaza inside the H. Lee Dennison Building,” said Leis. “This flag represents the history, bravery, service, and the sacrifice of all the service members on that special day.”
Colors were posted and retired by the Marine Corps League, Suffolk County Detachment, commanded by Jaclyn Imperati. Invocations and the closing benediction were done by Rabbi Joseph Topek. Musical stylings were provided by Jerome City Smith.
