Graybeards Celebrate 21 Years & Charitable Local

Last Saturday evening, February 4, 2023, the Rockaway Graybeards held their 21st Annual Dinner Dance at the Rockaway Hotel. The event saw over 250 Graybeards, honorees and guests gather for the evening’s festivities.

Acting as emcee for the evening, as is the organization’s tradition, was current Graybeard President Tommy Morgan. Tommy in his opening remarks recapped some of the great work the Graybeards have done in the past year, from helping out neighbors in their time of need, organizing food drives and fun runs, feeding hundreds at Thanksgiving, to building a wheelchair ramp, helping fire victims recover from their experiences, sending a young boy battling cancer for the second time to a Yankee Game with his family for a fond memory and repose from treatments and, of course, their laudable Soldiers to Disney initiative, that saw the 96th family of a wounded warrior sent to Disney for a well-deserved vacation; it was a very success filled year of 2022 for the organization.

Following his opening remarks Tommy presented the Don “DH” Hart Memorial Award to Mrs. Lynda Collins. Lynda, much like DH over the years, has donated hundreds of hours of her free time to many organizations throughout the Rockaway peninsula. Aside from her great work with LAOH Division 25 and The Knights of Columbus Columbiettes she has helped out the Graybeards, Knights of Columbus, AOH Division 21, St. Francis de Sales Parish and School, St. Rose of Lima Parish and School, St. Edmund’s Prep High School and many other charitable causes. Along with her family, husband Kenny, daughter Grace and son Thomas by her side and helping her out in any way she needed, Lynda has raised much needed money for all those organizations. In her acceptance speech Lynda thanked them all and had the following to say: “I want to thank the Hart family and the Graybeards for this honor. It’s very easy to step up and help out an organization like this, we’ve taught each other the importance of kindness, community and friendship, never forget where you came from”!

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