Politics & Government

Bethpage Medal of Honor Recipient Remembered

TOBAY Notebook: Town honors Lt. Karopczyc for heroic efforts during Vietnam War.

A memorial to honor a Medal of Honor winner who sacrificed his life to save others was dedicated in Bethpage recently. 

1st Lt. Stephen E. Karopczyc, who grew up in Bethpage, served in the United States Army’s Company A, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War. He received the medal posthumously for heroic action on March 12, 1967, in Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam. 

Numerous town and other elected representatives attended the June 15 unveiling of a memorial located at the rotary circle near the Bethpage LIRR Station. 

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And with good reason. According to the official U.S. Army account: 

Lt. Karopczyc, under intense enemy fire and in the open, hurled colored smoke grenades to designate the positions of the enemy for helicopter gunships. He was wounded above the heart by an enemy sniper but continued to direct his men.

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Once Karopczyc had gotten his troops to a safe area along with 2 other wounded soldiers, an enemy grenade landed with a few feet of them. 

Karopcyc threw his body on the grenade, sacrificing himself to protect his comrades. He succumbed to his severe wounds 2-hours later. 

In January 1969, Secretary of the Army Stanley R. Resor presented the Medal of Honor to his parents Edward and Katherine Karopczyc. Both of Karopczyc’s parents attended the memorial ceremony in Bethpage.

Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto was joined by Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, New York State Assemblyman Michael Montesano, and newly appointed Oyster Bay Councilwoman Michele M. Johnson.

Venditto has wanted to honor the Medal of Honor winner for some time. Bethpage resident Gary Bretton and Matt Rufrano of the Town of Oyster Bay’s Veterans Services Division, spearheaded the project, and both were pleased to learn Karopczyc’s parents were still alive and able to attend, town officials said. 

Bethpage has several public memorials at the location, including one for the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.

"Supervisor Venditto felt the recognition for Lt. Karopczyc was long overdue," said Kurt Ludwig, a town spokesman. "It was funded by community sponsors and local fundraising."

Summer Programs Abound for Seniors

Yoga, dance instruction, and aquatics are just some of the activities seniors can enjoy this summer as a participant in the Town of Oyster Bay Senior Summer Program

This year’s program will begin on Monday, July 8 and continue through Friday, Aug. 16.

  • On Mondays, the North Massapequa Community Centers will offer yoga, ballroom dancing and two sessions of bridge, with one of these specifically designed for beginners.
  • On Tuesdays, Bethpage Community Park offersr an aquatics class, and the Marjorie R. Post Community Center will offer tai chi classes, line dancing, an exercise class, and an aquatics classes.
  • A Wednesday program will be held at the Glen Head Community Center and will feature the music of John Walters, tai chi, bingo, a swim at Tappen Beach or a visit to a local farm stand. Additionally, each of these Wednesday programs will finish with special entertainment.
  • On Thursday mornings, Plainview-Old Bethpage Community Park will hold an aquatics classy mornings, while Syosset-Woodbury Community Park will offer ‘cards and conversation,’ yoga, line dancing, an advanced exercise class using hand weights and an aquatics class.
  • On Fridays, at the North Massapequa Community Center, there will be beginner’s bridge, tai chi, line dancing and an additional session of bridge. Also on Fridays, an aquatics class will be held at Marjorie R. Post Community Park and ballroom dancing and tai chi will be held at the Hicksville Community Center.

For more information on the Senior Summer Program call the Division of Senior Citizens Services at 797-7940 or visit the Town’s website, www.oysterbaytown.com.

West Harbor Closed to Shellfishing Over July 4 Holiday

Due to the potential for contamination of shellfish from boaters, a temporary shellfish closure will be conducted in the West Harbor section of Oyster Bay Harbor over the Independence Day holiday, beginning at sunrise on Thursday, July 4, and reopening at sunrise on Wednesday, July 10.

The closure is an annual routine over the holiday, where many boaters are on the water, town officials said.


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