The Calverton memorial service for William Thomas Cleary (1923-1944) will take place on Wednesday, August 13th. It will kick off at 11 a.m.
A US Army Air Force First Lieutenant during World War II, Cleary was reported “missing in action” as a member of the 773rd Bomber Squadron/463rd Bomber Group at just 21 years old on December 10th, 1944. He is believed to have perished alongside a crew of 10 others when their plane was shot down into the sea near Italy for unknown reasons.
The Air Medal and Purple Heart recipient’s upcoming service is courtesy of a joint effort coordinated between the Lake Ronkonkoma Heritage Association and Legislator Leslie Kennedy of the Twelfth District.
According to Ellyn Okvist, lead organizer and a representative for the former, Cleary never received a proper burial. Moreover, the memorial will also be in honor of the late Veteran’s father, John Richard Cleary, Sr., and his younger brother, James Cleary, with the hope they too will rest in peace knowing all is in order and that William is “Home at Last.”
Findagrave.com confirms Cleary resided in Kings County before enlisting in the Army on March 30th, 1943. He was last employed as a New York City bookkeeper prior to serving his country in the grandest way possible.
Riverhead Town Police will man the Honor Procession that is to precede Cleary’s memorial. Those keen on paying their respects should arrive at 9:30 a.m., and are advised to line up facing West—just east of the BP Gas Station on the right embankment, heading west on NY-25.
Once on NY-25, continue straight at an abbreviated velocity past Grumman Memorial Park on the left. The procession is 1.7 miles, with an anticipated 20-minute duration at respectably slow speeds.
A flyover is also slated. Barring unforeseen weather conditions, the skies will be filled with many a moving reminder of our fallen.