Crowley Presents

Anthony Lombardo (l.), Surgeon of the John V. Daniels Jr. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2813, recently visited the Jackson Heights office of Congressmember Joseph Crowley, who presented Lombardo with the Conspicuous Service Star and the Medal for Merit. George Custana, Post Quartermaster, accompanied the veteran. Lombardo, besides being active with VFW Post 2813, is active in several community organizations, including the United Forties Association. The Conspicuous Service Star was instituted by New York State Governor George Pataki in October, 1999, joining with the previous authorized decorations, New York State Conspicuous Service Cross and New York State Medal for Merit, to "recognize current and former members of the Armed Forces of the United States whose service on federal active duty was honorable and who were recipients of unit citations arising from combat." Lombardo served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He was assigned to the 8038th Engineers, 8th Army H.Q. and participated in the Inchon Landing and the liberation of Seoul among other battles. Crowley said that he was glad that the World War II and Korean War vets, who are dying at the rate of 1,000 per day, are coming forward to claim their decorations and that the widows and family members of deceased veterans are asking for the medals in remembrance.