Levittown's VFW Post 9592 Past Commander Jack Stein was inspired by a small town in Massachusetts, whose residents gathered to immortalize a local war hero and he started on a mission to bring the same renewed level of patriotism home.

Levittown was built for returning Veterans from World War II and in keeping with tradition Veterans are still very visible throughout the town. Memorial Day parades commemorating those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, are quite evident among those who make this town their home. "What was missing was a visible monument containing the names of those local heroes whose efforts symbolized the cost of freedom," said Stein.

With the help of Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray, Beth Dalton of Dalton's Funeral Home in Levittown and Wellwood Memorial in North Lindenhurst, the proposed Levittown Monument Project began. The monument will be constructed at the Levittown Veterans Memorial on Hempstead Turnpike and will contain the names of Levittown's fallen heroes from the Korean, Vietnam and Iraqi Wars, with a special tribute to 1LT Stephen E. Karopczyc, Medal of Honor recipient. The unveiling of this project will appropriately take place on Veteran's Day, Nov. 11, 2008.

"Our local heroes will never be forgotten", said Stein. "The pride we feel for these soldiers and their families will be long remembered."