Suffolk County’s 250th Anniversary Committee is ramping up its efforts to spotlight one of the region’s most important historical figures—Declaration of Independence signer William Floyd, a native son of the Mastic Peninsula whose legacy, Chairman Bill Doyle says, is too often overlooked.
“We want people to remember he’s not just a highway or a school district,” Doyle said. “He was a real person who took tremendous personal risks to help launch this country.”
As part of its public-outreach plan, the committee will debut a themed float in the Mastic–Shirley Christmas Parade on December 7, featuring a historical reenactor portraying Floyd.
The committee will follow the parade with a December 17 press conference marking William Floyd Day, established by a recent county resolution recognizing the Founding Father’s birthday. Local and state officials are expected to participate. “The whole point is to reacquaint people with William Floyd and the sacrifices he made.”
Those sacrifices, Doyle emphasized, were profound. “It wasn’t easy being a Founding Father,” he said. “When Floyd signed that document, the king would have viewed it as absolute treason. He had to flee his home for the entire Revolutionary War. Most people today don’t realize what he risked.”
Planning is also underway for the committee’s next major public event: a February 22 William Floyd seminar and rally at the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Library. Retired Floyd teacher Ron Gross, now a statewide union officer, will speak alongside other historical experts. Committee members also hope to include Chief Harry Wallace of the Unkechaug Nation, who would share additional insights into the Revolutionary era.
The committee is chaired by Doyle and includes School Board President April Coppola, her spouse Rob Fleischmann, Kevin Collins, representatives of the Mastic Peninsula Historical Society, library trustee Joe Furnari, and members of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The offices of County Executive Ed Romaine, Legislator Jim Mazzarella, and Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico are also on board.
“This is our chance,” Doyle said, “to make sure people truly understand the legacy of William Floyd as we approach the 250th anniversary of the nation he helped create.”