Way to Go! Sachem East student beautifies memorial path
Aidan Dellomo, a junior at Sachem High School East in Farmingville, worked to beautify a memorial path near the building’s front entrance. Credit: Sachem Central School District
A student at Sachem High School East has beautified a memorial path near the building's entrance that honors former pupils who have died.
Aidan Dellomo, a junior at the school in Farmingville, spearheaded the planting of flowers as well as the installation of two new benches and a memorial plaque featuring the names of about 10 former students who are now deceased.
He pursued the project as part of his Eagle Scout Award, the highest achievement attainable in the Boy Scouts of America. He is a member of Troop 80 in Farmingville.
"There were overgrown bushes everywhere and no place for people to sit," said Dellomo, who received a proclamation for his efforts from Suffolk County Legis. Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville). Of the finished project, he said: "I was very happy about the way it turned out. It looked a lot cleaner than it originally was, which was my goal."
To get the idea for the upgrades, Dellomo said he met with school's principal, Lou Antonetti, and asked if there was anything he could do to help improve the school community. He funded the project through donations from friends and family, and he received a donation of flowers from Bloomin Haus Nursery in Holtsville.
Dellomo, 16, also serves as his troop's senior patrol leader and plays hockey in a church league.
— MICHAEL R. EBERT
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
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