Mattituck High School adds 11 to Wall of Honor ahead of Veterans Day
Mattituck-Cutchogue High School welcomed 11 more veterans to its Wall of Honor on the eve of Veterans Day Tuesday, adding their names to an ever-growing tribute to those who have served the country.
The wall now includes the names of 196 past and present service members.
“The wall stands year-round. It’s a reminder of the courage, sacrifice, and commitment demonstrated by these individuals with us today and those who have served prior,” Principal Patrick Burke said at Tuesday’s induction ceremony.
This year’s 11 honorees are:
- Gerald Burkhardt, class of 1977, who was stationed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal as an avionics electronics technician for two fighter squadrons before completing his Navy service in 2000.
- Staff Sgt. Anthony Giacia, class of 2015, an active-duty U.S. Army paralegal serving in the Office of the Special Trial Counsel at Fort Hood, Texas.
- Richard Horton, class of 2025, a crew chief who helps maintain Air Force rescue aircraft in Westhampton Beach.
- Tyler Murphy, class of 2009, a U.S. Army military intelligence officer stationed in Virginia. He has served with both infantry and artillery units, gathering and analyzing intelligence about potential threats.
- Timothy Sceviour, class of 1977, who served for 20 years in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps before retiring as a captain and head of operations in 2006. He served two tours as commanding officer and received five Meritorious Service Medals and the Legion of Merit.
- John Stewart, class of 1968, who enlisted in the Army in 1969 and was honorably discharged in 1971.
- Vincent Torelli, class of 2003, who was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, with the Third Marine Regiment.
- Jonathan Verity, class of 2009, who enlisted as an active-duty Marine after graduation and served two tours as an infantryman in the Middle East. He was honorably discharged after six years of service.
- Howard Wells, class of 1943, who served in the Navy’s construction battalions after being found to be colorblind. His unit was sent to the Philippines in December 1944, where he remained until the end of World War II.
- Jonathan Wells, class of 1975, who served in the New York National Guard, based in Riverhead, and was honorably discharged in December 1980. His father, Howard Wells, was also inducted.
- Erich Zwinkel, class of 1976, who served in the Navy for 11 and a half years.
“It’s amazing that a high school is honoring the military the way Mattatuck has done and hopefully always will do,” Mr. Sceviour said. “I’m not sure there’s any other school that does it like Mattituck does, so I’m proud.”
Inductees and their families were each given an American flag to plant on the school lawn, where they gathered around a cutout of a saluting soldier.
“It’s such an honor to be given the opportunity to thank our veterans and their families for the sacrifices they give,” Superintendent Shawn Petretti said.
Community members can visit the Wall of Honor year-round and thank those who have served. For families unable to attend the ceremony, private visits can be arranged through the principal’s office.
