If these vehicles could speak, what stories would they have to share about the mobile military history that they display on our local roads. The Long Island Military History Vehicle Club is based out of Bohemia, and it provides a great deal of patriotism to the veterans and families of this area. There are about twenty members who operate military antique jeeps from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, Two and Half Ton Trucks, Hummers, World War II Bicycles and Motorcycles. While this organization is based out of Bohemia, there is also a Nassau Chapter, who provide the same positive activities within their county. During COVID-19, there was a brief respite towards the activities of this organization that was hampered by the pandemic, but now they have a full schedule of future dates to present their unique vehicles at local events.
For close to twenty years, the members of this motor club have brought smiles to many older veterans and their families. Once a year, they drive to the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook to provide a convoy of military vehicles to honor our oldest local military figures. Working with local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legions across the county, this organization operates these nationalistic vehicles in Armed Forces, Veterans, Memorial, Independence, and St. Patrick’s Day Parades in Jamesport, Patchogue, Riverhead, Kings Park, and Smithtown.
Jude Petrowski from Riverhead is a key member of this club and he is extremely pleased with their ability to continually provide appreciation to our older World War II, Korean, and Vietnam Veterans. Petrowski and his fellow members also support the Honor Flight program that brings older veterans for the thrill of military flights to commemorate their amazing service to this nation. During birthdays, this club organizes a parade of vehicles for older veterans who enjoy seeing these vehicles that they might have operated during their younger years in uniform. There are moments this military history vehicle organization will coordinate activities with Suffolk and New York City Police to conduct flyovers for various milestones. A memorable occasion was when a 100-year-old veteran danced to music for his birthday at Applebees.
A retired mechanic for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Paul Randazzo of Stony Brook is a key participant of this military vehicle organization. He is immensely proud of the happiness that they bring to veterans and military families. Driving a 1960 French Hotchkiss Jeep, he believes that this piece of military antique was used by the French Army in North Africa during the fighting in the Algerian War from 1954-1962. Randazzo is happy to showcase this foreign jeep in many of the local parades with his fellow members of this organization.
Randazzo is also a volunteer Chief Vehicle Maintenance Mechanic for the Museum of American Armor in Bethpage. For years he has handled every type of repair and restoration for major military pieces that are seen by thousands of visitors. Over the last ten years, Randazzo has worked on jeeps, tanks, armored personnel carriers that will be seen and operated during the May 18th-19th military encampment. Randazzo is pleased with the growth of this tremendous museum that is the largest of its type within the tri-state area that features a 25,000 square foot World War II Museum to remind our local citizens the victorious importance of these vehicles and how they helped our Armed Forces defeat the Germans and Japanese. Through the mechanical talents of Randazzo, he is able to support the educational programs to numerous field trips, speaking arrangements, and hands-on view of these impressive military vehicles. Thank you to Long Island Military History Vehicle Club’s Suffolk County Chapter for their energy to ensure that patriotism is always enhanced through the unique and charitable qualities of this local organization!!!!