The first 30 cherry blossom trees have been planted at Veterans Memorial Park as part of a new Town of Riverhead program to honor veterans and beautify the park.
Riverhead Town officials held a dedication ceremony at the park on Veterans Day, where family members and friends who sponsored the trees gathered for a celebratory ribbon-cutting.
Members of the RIverhead High School NJROTC were in attendance, and an NJROTC color guard presented the colors for the National Anthem, which kicked off the ceremony Monday afternoon.
Each tree was purchased in memory of, or in honor of, an individual veteran. The cost of the tree includes a granite stone bearing the name and branch of service of the veteran to whom it is dedicated. The fee also covers the cost of planting.
“The cherry blossom tree, known for its resilience and beauty, is a fitting symbol for our veterans,” Council Member Ken Rothwell told the crowd, noting that Veterans Memorial Park is right across the street from Calverton National Cemetery.
“The response from our community has been remarkable. Each tree tells a story. Each marker represents an individual who served with courage and commitment,” Rothwell said.
“This is a space for future generations to learn, reflect and understand the depth of our veterans’ sacrifices and the freedoms they fought to protect,” he said. “This park is not just a space, it’s a living memorial, a place that will carry the legacy of our veterans for years to come.”
Supervisor Tim Hubbard said the ceremony was “a hugely important event for us in the Town of Riverhead.” He lauded the efforts of the Veterans Advisory Committee, which despite its small size — it has only four members, he said — accomplishes so much. The cherry blossom tree program is “phenomenal,” Hubbard said.
Thomas Najdzion, the commander of the Riverhead VFW Post 2476, chairs the Veterans Advisory Committee. Yesterday, he snipped the ribbon.
Robin Karp of Calverton, who sponsored a tree In memory of her husband, Steve Harvey Karp, a Vietnam War Navy veteran, attended the ceremony with their son Bryan Karp.
“It’s such a wonderful tribute to all of our veterans. We’re so proud of our veterans and so honored to have an opportunity to plant a tree in memory of, or dedicated to someone who is near and dear to us,” said Karp, whose husband passed away 11 years ago.
“This is a wonderful initiative. The Town of Riverhead is a wonderful place to live. I’ve lived here for 17 years and it’s paradise to us,” she said. “We’re very grateful.”
“This is such a great opportunity, to be able to come here with the kids and see this living memorial,” Bryan Karp said.
“I can’t wait until the spring to see the cherry blossoms bloom,” Robin Karp said.
Anne Swiskey Carlotta, a sister of William Swiskey of Greenport, was admiring the trees. She said her sister Helen Swiskey commissioned the tree in memory of their brother. Bill Swiskey was an Army veteran who served in Vietnam. He passed away in August 2023. He worked for the village for nearly 40 years, serving at retirement as its superintendent of utilities. He was a near constant presence at village meetings, voicing his opinions on a variety of subjects.
Renee Reeve, daughter of Riverhead native Rod Kaelin, was at the ceremony with her granddaughter Kaelin Minnick. Her father was a Vietnam veteran who died on Aug. 31 at age 79, from illnesses directly related to Agent Orange exposure. The family presented him with the gift of the cherry blossom tree for Father’s Day, she said. “He was very touched and very proud,” Reeve said, knowing there would be a living memorial for him in a park in his hometown.
The town announced the cherry blossom tree program in June. It was initiated by the Riverhead Veterans Advisory Committee, on which Rothwell serves as Town Board liaison.
The trees planted so far line a portion of the eastern exit road from the park to Middle Country Road and also line the new parking lot adjoining the domed ice rink site, where bathrooms and an outdoor deck rink remain under construction.
The 8-foot-tall trees were purchased from Shade Trees Nursery and planted with assistance of the Plant Connection in Jamesport, Rothwell said. Mulch was donated by DeLea Sod Farms, he said.
“The buildings and grounds crew has been out here with a water truck, watering them every day to make sure they are established before winter,” Rothwell said in an interview after the ceremony.
The councilman said he was very pleased with the outcome and with a “great turnout” by family members for yesterday’s ceremony.
“These trees should be in full bloom around Memorial Day each year,” Rothwell said yesterday. “It’s going to be beautiful.” The trees might not bloom the first year, he said, but after that it’s going to be beautiful, Rothwell said.
Rothwell said he hopes to create a picnic area south of the hockey rinks. “We want people to be able to sit outside surrounded by cherry blossoms,” he said. “The goal is to have a cherry blossom festival” in the future, Rothwell said.
He hopes the cherry blossom program attracts more participants. He would like to see trees planted the whole length of the exit roadway and also line the large parking lot that abuts the dog park and baseball fields.
“You know how Riverhead always lacks the funding to do projects to beautify everything? This was an opportunity to ask the people to come forward,” Rothwell said.
Each tree, including granite stone, planting and maintenance, costs $675. The application to purchase a tree may be downloaded on the Riverhead Town website, or picked up at the Town Board coordinator’s office in Riverhead Town Hall, 4 W. Second Street, Riverhead.
The cherry blossom tree program is open to anyone. Veterans need not have been residents of the Town of Riverhead.
The trees purchased and planted so far, according to a list provided by the town yesterday:
US Marine Corps (USMC)
- Arthur J. Noskin
- Peter F. Duarte
- Loy S. Turns
- William Thomson
- Jack Lorenze Black (US Navy & USMC)
US Army
- Marco T. Oliveri
- Nicolo Corello
- Christopher M. Gironda
- William J. Gironda
- Gerald Joseph Kalinowski
- CPL Frank W. Banaszak (AKA Bonner)
- PVT William J. Banaszak
- Martin Steven Rizzo
- Albert John Anderson Sr.
- Gerard (Rod) Russell Kaelin Sr.
- Robert J. Allen
- William Swiskey
US Army Air Force
- Henry B. Tuthill
- Ernest M. Taylor
US Air Force
- Arthur Duarte
US Navy
- Frank Duarte (Seebees)
- Harvey Steve Karp
- James C. Gray
- Paul E. Fitzharris
- Francis Raymond Lane (BMSN E-3)
- Richard J. DiBlasi (Pilot)
- Army National Guard
- Carl Martin Vultaggio
US Space Force
- Jose Sebastion Valdivia
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