News by Richard Acritelli

News by Richard Acritelli on South Shore Press


Nov 26, 2024

The Dangers of the Ukrainian War

"Aggression against the Russian Federation and its allies by a non-nuclear country with the support of a nuclear state will be considered a joint attack."

Nov 20, 2024

The Leadership and Service of a Local Coast Guard Hero

This citation from President George W. Bush, recognized the heroic Coast Guard efforts of Nathan B. "Nate" Bruckenthal. A little over 20 years ago, this local boy, who looked like the "all-american" kid was killed defending the United States during the War on Terror in Iraq. Nate was born on July 17th, 1979, and for several of his younger years, he grew up Stony Brook. With his mom, Nate lived in a military family, and he moved to different bases in Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Virginia. Nate enjoyed playing football, serving as a volunteer firefighter, and was a member of the Navy Junior ROTC in Virginia at Herndon High School. Returning to Long Island, Nate joined the Coast Guard in 1998, where he was first stationed in Montauk, NY. While he expected to become a police officer like his father or a firefighter, Nate thrived in the Coast Guard through different jobs and deployments.

Nov 13, 2024

Historic Presidential Elections and Military Conflicts in our Nation

During this past week, the United States has a new Presidentelect in Donald J. Trump to lead this nation for the second time in the last three political terms. In our history, there have been major political elections that have fallen near Veterans Day. While the United States is not directly engaged in any wars, this country has openly supported the Ukrainians against Russia, Taiwan from the threats of China, and tried to mediate the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians over the Gaza Strip conflict. At this time, there are past moments that American Presidents carried out political campaigns through times of warfare and national foreign policy concerns. This process continues today through the transfer of power that will be constitutionally carried out in January. The Trump Administration will assume major concerns that were seen through the following examples of past presidential terms. 

Nov 6, 2024

Early American Republic Election Fights with our Historic Leaders

— President Abraham Lincoln, August 23rd, 1864 

Oct 23, 2024

Segments of the History of American Political Campaigns Towards the Elections

— Abraham Lincoln, Cooper Hall Speech, February 27th, 1860 "Throughout the nation, men and women, forgotten in the political philosophy of the government of the last years, 

Oct 23, 2024

A Military History Vision Near the Grand Tetons of Dubois, Wyoming

- President Theodore Roosevelt 

Oct 16, 2024

Fire Service by Local Heroic Figures and the Nationalistic Power of Baseball

 "I want you all to know that America today, America today is on bended knee, in prayer for the people whose lives were lost here, for the workers who work here, for the families who mourn. This nation stands with the good people of New York City and New Jersey and Connecticut as we mourn the loss of thousands of our citizens." Ground Zero rescue workers told President George W. Bush, "We can't hear you!" This roaring crowd heard from this leader, "I can hear you! I can hear you! The rest of the world hears you," replied Bush. "And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon!"

Oct 9, 2024

The 2024 Vice Presidential Debate: Vance vs. Walz

- Vice President Debate, Election of 1988 

Sep 22, 2024

The Patriotic Loyalty and Kindness of VFW Post 6249 Rocky Point Veterans of Foreign Wars

These words by this historic general uniquely presents the make-up of a veteran as an American citizen who has made a deposit of national service to the United States.  This Constitutional pledge to support our country at home and abroad demonstrates the longstanding strength of veterans to be the backbone of this strong nation.  Even as military members were in uniform decades ago, today the older generations of veterans still make America proud for their initiatives to perform necessary contributions for our citizens.

Sep 14, 2024

Political Debates and Resentment Amongst Presidential Candidates

When looking at the September 10th presidential debate between former President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, it was easy to identify the distaste that each candidate demonstrated towards each other.  Both had aggressive moments over the most hotly contested topics that these candidates either opposed or supported.  Since the days of George Washington, there is no surprise over the negative tensions that are being demonstrated through the hotly contested moments of presidential debates.

Sep 11, 2024

9/11/01 and Our American Generations

American spirit will prevail over

Sep 4, 2024

Contrasting views of Presidential Conventions

Ladies and gentlemen, when Abraham Lincoln was nominated in 1860, and a committee brought the news to him at his home in Springfield, Illinois, his reply was two sentences long. Then, while his friends and neighbors waited in the street, and while bonfires lit up the May evening, he said simply, "And now I will not longer defer the pleasure of taking you, and each of you, by the hand."

Aug 28, 2024

The American Incursion into Cambodia

- President Richard M. Nixon

Aug 20, 2024

Foreign Policy Issues in the Ukraine, the Middle East, and Taiwan

This assault began on August 6th by 10,000 hardened Ukrainian soldiers that were eager to bring the war to the Russian people and make them feel the sting of fighting. President Volodymyr Zelensky had to endure the in-fighting between the Republicans and Democrats over the most recent financial and military aid congressional bill. The Ukrainians are reveling in this reversal of fortune against Putin who has ordered reserves from battlefield areas and redeployed them back toward their own territory and must oppose the onslaught of drones that has attacked Russian airfields. Zelensky is determined to regain his territory and not to make peace with Russia until all these lands are liberated. Putin has more equipped forces, but he is shocked over his country's weakness to halt this enemy's weeklong enemy incursion. Outside of establishing a commission to address this incursion, the Russian government is dumbfounded in how to handle this movement that has not yet been pushed back. 

Aug 13, 2024

The Dangerous French Summer of 1944 and the Loss of Paris

The world has descended on Paris for the Summer Olympics that has seen global athletes participate during the goodwill of these games. As Americans are leading the medal count, it was eighty years ago this month that our soldiers fought the Nazis in France. While the German Wehrmacht hurt American forces through the deadly hedgerow fighting that caused massive casualties for both sides, the Supreme Commander of Allied Expeditionary Forces General Dwight D. Eisenhower expected his armies to push away from Normandy.

Aug 3, 2024

Michael Curtin and the 3256 Foundation

Two months before the 9/11/01 anniversary, these citizens are armed with smiles and patriotism to honor the police and military bravery of Curtin.  Twenty-three years ago, it was a beautiful day, as Curtin wanted to finish his workday, and return home to celebrate his wife Helga's birthday.  Instead, it became one of the worst days in American history, as this country was under attack.   As terrorist hijackers carried out coordinated attacks on Manhattan, Washington D.C., and Flight 93 over Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the city ordered all rescue workers towards the World Trade Center.  Curtin was at a command post in the North Tower when the South Tower collapsed.  After this building was attacked, civilians tried to exit this building, Curtin refused to vacate his post.  He stayed in this deadly situation until all his officers from Truck 2 left this perilous situation.  At 10:28 am, the North Tower crashed to the ground, killing Curtin and thirteen other Emergency Serv

Jul 26, 2024

Presidential Turmoil and Change in American History

​- President Lyndon B. Johnson, 1968

Jul 20, 2024

"By God, that will be the last speech that he will ever make!" John Wilkes Booth, April 11th, 1865 Historic Threats against American President's

On July 13th, 2024, near Butler Pennsylvania, Former President Donald J. Trump was in the middle of speaking to thousands of people at a campaign rally. Turning slightly as he spoke, shots rang out from Thomas Mathew Crooks, who was quickly shot and killed by law enforcement. Minutes before, Crooks was spotted lying on a roof, as concerned citizens alerted police officials. Trump was shot in the ear, as Crooks almost killed the Republican Party's nominee for the general election against President Joseph Biden. Over the course of America's history, there have been many dangerous situations that saw the killing and wounding of our leaders.

Jul 17, 2024

General Ulysses S. Grant, Final Phase of the Vicksburg Campaign

From the start of the Vicksburg campaign, General's Joseph Johnston and John C. Pemberton were never unified to deal with the audacity of Grant's army in Mississippi. The northerners lived off the land, they attacked and prevented two separate armies from uniting to decisively hit their forces. Every day, Lincoln intently watched to learn about the whereabouts of Grant's men that deeply frustrated the ability of the enemy to defeat the Union in this campaign.

Daily Feed

Local

Investors Throw Millions at Suffolk

The sale of $350 million in Tax Anticipation Notes at 2.94% and $46.4 million in Refunding Serial Bonds at 2.66% was reported by Comptroller John Kennedy. He attributes the impressive number of bidders to the county’s improved credit ratings which resulted in healthy competition, and significant cost savings for the residents of Suffolk County.


Local

History Comes Alive at Military Museum

The museum is the dream of the nearby Rocky Point VFW Post 6249 membership, whose stories are befitting of the many heroes depicted in the gallery’s hallowed halls. There’s museum advisor Joe Cognitore, the post’s commander, whose Army service in Vietnam earned him a Bronze Star with a “V” for Valor.


Local

Fort Sumter Pilgrimage Explores Family’s Civil War Legacy

Following the War of 1812 with Britain, President Andrew Jackson realized the need to strengthen the new nation’s coastal defenses, especially to protect the Atlantic entrance to Charleston, the south’s busiest port. Millions of tons of Massachusetts granite created an island at the confluence of the Ashley and the Cooper rivers where none had been before