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Wantagh’s July 4 celebration
by Russell Rhine
Though a slightly hazy and hot day, it was still a great time for those who came to the aerodrome at Cedar Creek Park.
It’s been almost 100 years since the Army Air services commissioned the same area as a training field for pilots who were to be deployed to the war in Europe. Local area residents would have seen and heard Curtis Jennys flying over their houses as the young aviators flew from Lufbery Field.
Today, the same area where the Jennys once flew is home to aviators of a different sort. Hobbyists of all ages, from 8 to 88, use the facilities to fly their radio controlled (RC) model aircraft. These fliers are also very deeply interested in the history of aviation, the aircraft flown and the people who flew them.
Of significant interest to the fliers at the aerodrome is one particular aviator – Major Raoul Lufbery. He was an American who was the top ace with the Lafayette Escadrille prior to America’s entry into World War I.
He later joined the infamous American 94th Squadron. Killed in action in the skies over France, he was later honored with the commissioning of Lufbery Field.
For the past two years a committee assembled to honor Major Lufbery worked diligently to do so. With a unanimous vote in the Nassau County Legislature, a resolution was passed to name the aerodrome Lufbery Aerodrome.
Next on the agenda was to work with the county on designing and installing new signs at Cedar Creek Park with the aerodrome’s new name. Scheduled for unveiling on May 23, the event had to be moved to June 5 due to the possibility of inclement weather.
Hosted by Charles Lando, the day’s event was highlighted by the appearance of Major Lufbery’s 89-year-old niece Doris Lufbery. Mrs. Lufbery, who was escorted by her daughter Lisa, seemed to enjoy being with us as much as we enjoyed having her. An extremely moving invocation was presented by Edward Smits of Wantagh, the Nassau County Historian.
A Color Guard of U.S. Naval Sea Cadets, under the supervision of Bob Maloney of the Lufbery VFW Post, from Major Lufbery’s home state of Connecticut, stood at attention throughout the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. Mrs. Lufbery honored us with a few words about her uncle and his exploits as one of America’s early aviation
heroes.
To pay tribute to the committee who diligently worked for the past year to make this day possible, Certificates of Appreciation were presented by Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, and Nassau County Legislators David Denenberg and Dennis Dunne.
Of course quite a few people helped and supported the committee throughout the year and deserved recognition. The presidents of the five RC clubs who sponsored the day’s events presented Certificates of Appreciation to Mr. Smits; Dr. Natalie Naylor, Long Island historian and Hofstra University Professor Emerita; Josh Soren, past president of the Wantagh Historical and Preservation Society and Andrew Parton, executive director of the Cradle of Aviation Museum.
Also honored for their support with the Nassau County Legislature during the resolution process were Legislators Denenberg and Dunne.
Over the past few years, there has been a lot of community activity to keep Cedar Creek Park from being tarnished by outsiders. Their work has allowed us to keep a park that we have enjoyed for years and as RC fliers with limited facilities on Long Island to enjoy our hobby, we are truly thankful. It was our pleasure to present Roberta Grogan, Chairperson, Seaford Harbor PTA Environmental Committee; Angela Macropolous, a New York Times reporter; Ella
Stevens, president, Wantagh-Seaford Homeowners Association; Deanna Suppes, Wantagh PTA and Nicholas Tucci, owner-operator, Cedar Creek Park Tether Car Track, with Certificates of Appreciation for the tremendous work they accomplished in support of our park and the for the work I am sure they will continue to do.
It now was time for what we had all been waiting for. Mrs. Lufbery was escorted to the new signs and unveiled both, to the applause of all who were present at the ceremony. As you can see in the accompanied photo, the people at Nassau County did a fantastic job in designing the signs that totally exceeded the committee’s expectations. Jack Filman, president of the Nassau Flyers, read the poem “In Flanders Field,” and the ceremony closed with the playing of “Taps” by Glenn Gifford of the Wantagh High School band.
After the ceremony, everyone was treated to a great luncheon cooked by the presidents of the five supporting RC clubs. The rest of the day was spent with fliers from all of the clubs, as well as non-affiliated fliers enjoying a great day at the field. The highlight of the afternoon was probably when Mrs. Lufbery flew one of the trainer airplanes with a flight instructor at her side. Little did we know that she flew Taylor Craft airplanes during the days before World War
II.
This was a day that all present will remember, as we will also remember a few of the words from Edward Smits’ invocation: “May this field provide a place to nurture the dreams, imagination and skills of young and old, and we ask a blessing for all those like Major Lufbery, past and present, who take to the skies daily to enable peace and freedom to reign in the world.”
Special thanks go out to the people of the county Parks Department, who assisted the committee throughout their preparations for the ceremony. It would not have been possible for this day to happen without the tireless work of The Committee to Honor Major Raoul Lufbery. Chairman Charles Lando assembled the committee of Russell Rhine, Ernie Schack, Harvey Schwartz and Edward Smits a year ago with a goal in mind, and it certainly came to fruition.
