The Patchogue-Medford Athletic Department, the Patchogue-Medford Hall of Fame (PMHOF), and Pat-Med youth football, lacrosse, and cheer invited all active military personnel and veterans to be honored and recognized for their dedication and service. The ceremony was held before the 6 p.m. varsity football game, with the high school’s team facing off against Longwood. It was a well-attended event on Friday, Sept. 9, at Raider Stadium, located at Patchogue-Medford High School, Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy Campus.

The campus was a fitting location for the event since it is named after the heroic Navy SEAL Lt. and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Michael Murphy, who was a 1994 Patchogue-Medford graduate. In addition to being a member of the National Honor Society, he was also on the varsity football team and a summer lifeguard at Lake Ronkonkoma. After graduating from Penn State with degrees in political science and psychology, Murphy turned down an offer to go to law school to join the Navy and became a SEAL. He was killed in action in Afghanistan on June 27, 2005.

Murphy’s image was emblazoned on the commemorative coin used for the coin toss before the game. The honor of throwing the coin on the field was given to Joseph Gaeta, a 95-year-old World War 2 veteran whose ship was in the initial wave of Normandy. The youthful former high school football coach, who still enjoys helping on the field, attributes his health and longevity to walking and staying active. He certainly lives up to the iconic Superman pendant he wore on a chain around his neck as he proudly wielded the coin of honor.

Dean Murray, former NYS assemblyman and candidate for NYS Senate, attended the event along with other elected officials. He appreciated the opportunity to show gratitude to local members serving in the military.

“There’s not enough we could ever do to say thank you, and yet, this is a great start, because having the kids, the faculty, the administration, the parents, everyone coming in to say ‘thanks.’ It’s fantastic,” said Murray.

Also on hand was Patchogue resident and Legis. Dominick Thorne. He was thrilled to see the community having an event like this to support those who serve.

“I think it’s amazing whenever you have people that come together like this to socialize with each other and to pay respects to our veterans,” he said.

Manny Felouzis, president of the PMHOF and one of its founders, was at the event and explained some of the background about this exciting organization in the community, which he started in 2015 along with fellow 1969 graduate and former teacher at the Patchogue-Medford School District, Harry Farides, co-founders Tom Combs, the former Pat-Med athletic director; PMHS principal Dr. Randy Rusielewicz and Larry Roberts, the district’s former director of music. One inaugural Hall of Fame member is Lt. Michael Murphy.

“We currently have 46 full-time volunteers. They come from all walks of the community, the PTAs, the music programs, you name the organization, and our people come from it. We have people from the Lions Club, people from the Woman’s Club in Patchogue. We have a number of school district personnel. We have two members of the board of education that serve on our team,” said Felouzis.

The PMHOF’s motto is: “Where the past is always present.” It honors illustrious members, from all walks of life, worldwide, who hail from the Patchogue-Medford community. Its membership includes one of Major League Baseball’s premier pitchers, a sitting ambassador, an international opera star, a celebrated civil rights leader, and a federal judge who locked up one of America’s most notorious gangsters.

U.S. Army Spc. Briana Perez came back for the event to Patchogue-Medford High School, where she graduated in 2020, and was moved by the ceremony as a soldier who is also an alumna.

“It’s great to be back. Honestly, I haven’t been here in a while, but it was really great to see how all the younger kids were wearing the red, white, and blue uniforms,” she said. “They’re all just so cute and small, and kind of looking up to the older people.”

Perez, who is being deployed to Iraq in January for her first tour of duty overseas, is excited about the opportunity to travel.

“It’s important to recognize people who do this as a career. Our school is named after Lt. Michael Murphy, so it’s cool that inside we have a whole display of the military,” she continued.