Photos: Riverhead Medal of Honor recipient Garfield Langhorn laid to rest at Calverton National Cemetery

Riverhead Medal of Honor recipient PFC Garfield M. Langhorn Jr., PFC Garfield M. Langhorn Jr. was laid to rest this morning at Calverton National Cemetery, where family members, veterans, military representatives, elected officials and members of the community gathered for his committal service.

Langhorn, a 1967 Riverhead High School graduate, was killed in action in Vietnam on Jan. 15, 1969. He was 20 years old. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor after throwing himself on an enemy grenade to protect wounded soldiers during a recovery mission in Pleiku Province.

Lanhorn, whose death predated the establishment of Calverton National, was buried at Riverhead Cemetery, a few blocks from his home. He was reinterred at Calverton National along a road named in his honor. 

The reinterment was arranged by Vietnam veteran Timothy Dahlen, with the support of Langhorn’s family. Mangano Family Funeral Homes donated the costs of the funeral service. 

See prior story: Riverhead Medal of Honor recipient Garfield Langhorn to be reinterred at Calverton National Cemetery

Langhorn’s sisters, Yvonne Reid, Anna Mack and April Armstead attended the service, along with family, friends and community members.

Today’s solemn ceremony included military honors by the United States Army, taps, presentation of a presidential memorial certificate, and remarks by Dahlen and public officials, including Rep. Nick LaLota, Assembly Member Jodi Giglio, County Legislator Greg Doroski and Town Supervisor Jerry Halpin. The Rev. Cynthia Liggon, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Riverhead, where Langhorn worshipped and served as an usher, offered the prayer.  The service opened and closed with music by Nicholas Minguillon of the Saffron United Pipe Band.

RiverheadLOCAL photos by Emil Breitenbach Jr.