In 1996, after speaking to World War II veteran, Robert Clemens, at a veterans memorial event in Greenlawn, Councilman Steve Israel was inspired to embark on a project for the purpose of recording personal recollections of Huntington veterans who served our county in the wars and conflicts of the 20th century. The project was sponsored by Cablevision and the History Channel and coordinated by Josephine Jahier. The veterans oral history committee consisted of Councilman Steve Israel, Len Totora Jr. as Chairman, Yolanda Adkins, Mario Buonpane, James Strohecker, Victor Martinetti, and Carol Rocco, Coordinator of Veterans Affairs for the Town of Huntington. The students and volunteers who conducted the interviews were Jennifer Saland of Harborfields High School, Chad Zhong of Walt Whitman High School, Carolyn Hammond of Walt Whitman High School, Amy Corso of Harborfields High School, Seth A. Capo of Northport High School, Ivy Abrahams of Harborfields High School, Joyce Conklin as a volunteer, Kristian Folk of Cold Spring Harbor High School, Jaime Fleckner of Walt Whitman High School, Candice Conseur of Northport High School, Dennis Crosby of Northport High School, Kevin Porter of Huntington High School, and Hope Philbrick as a volunteer.
In 1998, a second phase of the oral history project was put in motion and sponsored once again by Cablevision and the History Channel. The veterans oral history committee consisted of Councilman Steve Israel, Len Totora Jr. as Chairman, Mario Buonpane, and Victor Martinetti. The project was coordinated by Donald McKay and Carol Rocco. Volunteers and contributors included David Ambro, Bart Allen, Rose Baylis, Lisa Broughton, Karen I. Brown, Elizabeth Cone, Joyce Conklin, Alfred DiGiacomo, Alejandra DiSalvo, Meryl Feingold, Alan Gershuny, Jared Gianatasio, Jim Hall, Michael Higgins, Josephine Jahier, Kathryn Quigley, Ellen C. Kelly, Winnie Scarola, Ann Sullivan, and Len Totora.
In 2003, a third and final phase of the veterans oral history project began. The project was coordinated by Carol Rocco. The veterans oral history committee consisted of Carol Rocco, Mario Buonpane, Victor Martinetti, Jeanine Dillon, Lynn Ruvolo, and Dr. Alfred V. Sforza. United States Congressman Steve Israel was Honorary Chairman. The project was co-chaired by Huntington Town Supervisor Frank P. Petrone and Councilwoman Marlene L. Budd. Volunteers and contributors included Elizabeth Marino of the Social Studies Department, and students of the Half Hollow Hills School District: Georges Duroseau, Jason Freed, Robbie Schwartz, Lilli Dash, Vanessa D'Egidio, Jennifer Mackey, Jessica Silverstein, Jason Freed, and Raji Shameem, Blake Wind of Huntington High School, Matthew Palatnik of Commack High School as well as Sue Bates, Alejandra Di Salvo, Kristen Gaumont, Paul Harrison Megan Lavery, Susan Penders, Jillian Perrotta, Stephen Pfeifer, Carol Rocco, Lynn Ruvolo, Linda Richard, Winnie Scarola, Gabriella Theisen, Anne Wahab Talasko, and Elizabeth Zihal.
