Stony Brook, NY – Volunteers of all ages from throughout and beyond NYS Assembly District Four gathered at the Long Island State Veterans Home on Saturday, April 25th to work side-by-side with veterans to hand-craft remembrance poppies. More than 50 volunteers made 500 poppies alongside members of local veteran organizations and residents of the veterans home.

These poppies will be distributed to partner veteran organizations throughout the community in advance of Memorial Day to be given out as an ongoing symbol of remembrance and respect. The poppy has long represented the sacrifice of our fallen service members, and this meaningful activity offered residents an opportunity to honor their legacy while connecting directly with those who have served.

The event, which served as Assemblywoman Kassay’s April volunteer event in her 2026 Monthly Mission event series, was brought to the community through the collaboration with a strong coalition of local veteran organizations, including: Long Island State Veterans Home; American Legion Post 432; American Legion John R. Cacioppo Post 1848; American Legion Harbor Post 417; American Legion Irving Hart Post 1766; American Legion Jewish War Veterans of the USA Post 336; Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3054; Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4927; and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 400 Santora/Bonacassa. Throughout the event, local volunteers connected with veterans from the community and the Long Island State Veterans Home, hearing their stories while sharing their gratitude for their service.

About her April Monthly Mission, Assemblywoman Kassay shared, “It is incredibly heartening to see how many community members– including students and scouts– came out to show gratitude and give back to those who have given so much to us. It is always an honor to work with local veterans organizations to create opportunities for local folks to connect with our veterans, hear their stories, and show appreciation for their service and sacrifice. I thank every veteran who protected our freedoms, and am humbled to collaborate with veterans as they continue their legacy of service in efforts like this that support their fellow vets and communities.”

Fred Sganga, Executive Director of Long Island State Veterans Home shared, “We remain grateful to Assemblywoman Kassay for uniting our local veterans in the community here at the Long Island State Veterans Home for such a meaningful project. Creating red poppies, which symbolizes honoring our fallen veterans and remembering living veterans, is such a wonderful tribute, especially with Memorial Day fast approaching. We hope that this very engaging activity will become an annual event at our Home, so that the veterans we are so honored to serve know how meaningful their sacrifice of military service was for the Suffolk County community as well as our great nation.”

Leon Schoemmell, Post Commander of VFW Post 3054, shared: “It was nice to be able to come to the Long Island State Veterans Home and bring people together to support the people who really deserve it.”

Dan Adams of VFW Post 3054 shared his reflections: “This event was really well attended and it’s nice to have so many people who care. It’s great to see and it’s what we need to keep seeing”

Volunteers at this event also shared their thoughts and reflections on the experience:

Amie of Port Jefferson Station expressed, “It was an honor today getting to talk to Sal and the other veterans at this monthly mission. It’s always a privilege to celebrate and spend time with our country’s heroes.”

John of Stony Brook said, “I had a lot of fun talking to veterans and making something to honor their service.”

In an effort to bring residents together to serve their community, connect, and take part in hands-on projects that make a real difference in Assembly District 4, Assemblywoman Kassay has planned monthly mission opportunities throughout 2026. May’s Monthly Mission is cleaning historic graves with the Three Village Historical Society, the Long Island Cemetery Preservation Group, Davis Town Meeting House Society, Middle Island Civic Association, Coram Civic Association, and the Longwood Alliance. This family-friendly event will be held on Saturday, May 16th from 10:00am-1:00pm starting at the Davis Town Meeting House Society at 263 Middle Country Rd, Coram, NY 11727. If you would like to attend this event, please visit our website at nyassembly.gov/kassay, or call our office at 631-751-3094.

Community members are encouraged to visit the Assemblywoman’s government website, call her office at 631-751-3094, or email kassayr@nyassembly.gov to sign up for her electronic newsletter and receive information about upcoming events and community updates.