Contact: Betty Olt
(516) 465-2645
bolt@nshs.edu

MANHASSET, NY—At a news conference held on Veterans Day at the North Shore-LIJ Rosen Family Wellness Center, Lance Cpl. Richard Kaler, who died in combat in the Vietnam War, was honored by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand who presented family members with the Navy Cross and Purple Heart medals, and an American flag to his great nieces, Jillian, Riley and Darby Kaler of Patchogue. Forty-five years after the Long Island Marine’s death, his family and community members gathered to pay tribute to his extreme valor and heroism on the battlefield, dying at age 22. Participating in the event, in the back row, are: Lt. Col. Paul Mogg, executive director of the First Marine Corps District; Robert Kaler, Cpl. Kaler’s nephew; NY State Senator, Lee Zeldin; Tony Schiozzi; Vietnam-era veteran of Patchogue; Andrew Roberts; director of the Office of Military and Veterans Liaison Services, North Shore-LIJ; and Capt. Adrian Rankine-Gallow, Marine Capt. The Rosen Family Wellness Center is a behavioral health treatment facility for law enforcement and military personnel and their families.