Garfield Langhorn

Among the military heroes honored Saturday by volunteers placing flags at graves in St. John's Cemetery and Riverhead Cemetery were the first Riverhead man killed in World War I and Suffolk's only Medal of Honor Recipient in the Vietnam War.

Students, teachers and guests packed the Pulaski Street School auditorium Oct. 18 for the 15th annual Garfield Langhorn essay contest awards ceremony.

Family members, friends, fellow soldiers and families who owe their very existence to PFC Garfield M. Langhorn gathered today in Riverhead to remember the fallen hero and honor his legacy.

Tuesday marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Garfield Langhorn Jr., an Army radio man who threw himself on a live grenade to save fellow soldiers after an ambush in the Vietnamese jungle on Jan. 15, 1969.

“Let us all find the courage to right a wrong, to speak for the voiceless, to protect the defenseless. Let us each remember to honor our personal responsibilities and commitments and to offer service to our country, our communities and our families.” Riverhead Medal of Honor recipient PFC Garfield M. Langhorn was remembered at Pulaski Street School yesterday with the 14th annual Garfield Langhorn memorial essay contest.

Four Pulaski Street School sixth graders have been named winners of the annual Hometown Heroes Essay Contest named in honor of PFC Garfield Langhorn

PFC Garfield M. Langhorn was a true American hero, whose valor was recognized posthumously in 1970 President Richard Nixon with a Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military honor. Why has Langhorn been recognized so little over the years by his hometown of Riverhead?

Elizabeth Hanham, Phillip Tucci, Ryan Zaleski and Ayuania Humphrey read their essays about the soldier aloud to the school board last night.

When they finally found the mangled ruins of the helicopter, scattered deep in enemy territory in the Vietnam jungle, everyone inside was already dead. It was 1969, and Garfield Langhorn was very far away from home.

Memorial Day ceremonies at Calverton National Cemetery today included a special tribute to Riverhead Medal of Honor recipient PFC Garfield M. Langhorn, who died a hero at age 20 in Vietnam on Jan. 15, 1969.