Eva Casale launched her seven days of marathons Sunday with a big sendoff at Huntington Town Hall from government officials, veterans and families.
She wil run a marathon each day in different communities around Long Island, stopping at monuments, cemeteries and other sites important to veterans. The marathons raise funds for veterans’ care.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine joined in, naming Sunday Eva Casale Day and presenting her with a proclamation before she took off, running first to the Soldiers and Sailors monument before returning to run east to Northport. She carried a flag bearing the name of Anthony Michael Martinelli, a veteran from Lindenhurst who died in 2014. Casale shared hugs with his parents after telling the crowd she would carry a flag in his honor.
Huntington Supervisor Ed Smyth led the ceremony, which included the Suffolk County police Emerald Society pipe band, Patriot Riders, the biker safety group, American Bikers Aimed Toward Education, Suffolk Legislator Stephanie Bontempi, Councilwoman Theresa Mari, mayors Donna Koch of Northport and Pamela D. Panzenbeck of Glen Cove, and Kevin McCaffrey, presiding officer of the legislature.