________ Franklin square/elmont _______
HERALD $1.00
Kindergartners learn their letters
NHP names 2022 val and sal
Reunion for WWII veterans
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VOL. 23 NO. 49
DECEMBER 2 - 8, 2021
33rd year for toy drive Maria Sonner’s effort is dedicated to her late mother A few days later, Sonner had collected three garbage bags filled with toys, with the intenShe couldn’t leave the doll on tion of donating them to poor the shelf. families, she said. When Maria Sonner came T hat year, she founded home to her father and husband, Eileen’s Gift of Love Toy Drive Bill, with a baby with this “handful doll from Macy’s in of toys,” a state1989, she was in ment shared by the tears, she said. Sonner family H e r m o t h e r, read. Now in its Eileen Ziegler, who 33rd year, the toy died in 1988. loved drive collects and baby dolls. Sonner, donates thousands of Franklin of toys each holiSquare, said that day season. shopping for the Its growth since dolls for her chil1989 isn’t the most dren was one of important part to her mother’s favorSonner. Rather, she ite Christmas activsaid, her favorite ities. part is Christmas Sonner took the mor ning. “My doll to her mother’s favorite part of the grave, but she knew toy drive is Christshe couldn’t leave it MARIA SONNER mas morning, there. She sought Franklin Square knowing how out Monsignor many families that Fred Schaefer, her my mother’s life neighbor and a close friend, to has touched,” she said. Her husask if he knew a little girl who band, Bill — who delivers every could use the doll. Instead, batch of toys — said that Maria Schaefer suggested that Sonner was hesitant to publicize the donate it to a local family strug- drive. The Sonners have two gling to provide toys — as well as daughters, Rachel and Samanfood — for their children during the holiday season. CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
By ROBERT TRAVERSO rtraverso@liherald.com
Courtesy Office of State Sen. Anna Kaplan
PETER GONG WAS inducted into the Veterans Hall of Fame because he is one of many veterans “from around the state who have distinguished themselves both in military and civilian life,” State Sen. Anna Kaplan said in a statement.
Hall of Fame inductee
Peter Gong, who served in both the Army and Air Force, is honored by State Senate By ROBERT TRAVERSO rtraverso@liherald.com
Peter Gong, of New Hyde Park, a 28-year veteran of two branches of the U.S. military, was inducted into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame on Nov. 19. A retired master sergeant who served for 12 years in the Army and then 16 years in the Air Force, Gong, 78, received 20 medals for his service, recognized for more than 25 helicopter combat missions and M14 rifle marksmanship, and including New York state’s Conspicuous Service Cross. Drafted into the Army in 1965, Gong “endured shelling, malaria, snakes, leeches, and casual racism while air-jumping into the rice paddies of
A
fter 28 years of service, today I accept this award on behalf of my fellow veterans who have sacrificed so much to ensure the peace and prosperity of our nation and the world. PETER GONG
Ret. Master Sgt., New Hyde Park Vietnam as an infantryman, his honor and duty to country unwavering under 60 pounds on his back as he dreamed of going airborne,” a statement from State Senator Anna Kaplan read. “I am extremely honored that my community came out to recognize my service as a member of the United States military,” Gong said at the
ceremony, according to the statement. “After 28 years of service, today I accept this award on behalf of my fellow veterans who have sacrificed so much to ensure the peace and prosperity of our nation and the world.” Gong, who was born in Brooklyn to parents who emigrated from Canton, China, CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
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y favorite part of the toy drive is Christmas morning, knowing how many families that my mother’s life has touched.