80-Year-Old Vietnam Veteran Recognized For Service, Homeless Veteran Advocacy

FARMINGDALE, NY – 80-year-old Arturo Edwards of Farmingdale is a Vietnam veteran recognized by the community for his years of service and dedication to aiding homeless veteran organizations.

Staff Sergeant Arturo Jerome Edwards served honorably in the U.S. Army for two years and an additional 16 years in the U.S. Army Reserve, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant E-6. He also served 20 years in the New York City Police Department.

His journey began when he landed in America in 1964.

“I was living in Panama in the Canal Zone where the Americans were,” he said. “My family was there, but I had the opportunity to leave and come to New York. I wanted to have a better life.”

He arrived without any family aside from his sister, who was already in the U.S.

“I landed in the U.S. and within a year, I got my draft card,” he said.

He was 18 years old and by 19 years old, he was serving in the Army in heavy artillery.

“I had no friends, no family,” he said. “I went on a ship to Vietnam. There was no goodbye. I was all by myself.”

Arturo said when he came back to the States, he was assigned to the military police company. He spent 18 months in Vietnam, and he said he talks about his experience with other veterans at events, at schools, and more.

“I talk a lot about my service in Vietnam — how difficult it was,” he said. “I spent most of my time in heavy artillery in the combat zone. I was very young. I thank the Lord that I never got hurt. I was so fortunate.”

Arturo said some of the friends he made in the Army were not as fortunate as he was, to return home: “Many never made it back.”

He has lived in Farmingdale for 10 years and is a veteran advocate. He has been commemorated and presented with many awards over the years, including the Town of Oyster Bay Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Service Award in 2023.

Since serving in the Army and in the NYPD, he stays active and gives back to the veteran community. He is the president of the Help for Homeless Long Island Veterans, which was founded about seven months ago and is based in Farmingdale. He said they’re brand new and accepting donations.

“I’m very active with veterans and work with different groups and organizations,” he said. “I advocate for the veterans right now and help homeless veterans.”

Arturo said it’s his mission to give back as much as he can to homeless veterans, and the town sees his dedication. Court Reporter Karen Lorenzo of Top Key Court Reporting met Arturo many times as he led the town board meetings in the Pledge of Allegiance. Arturo said he walked with his cane very slowly because of his knees, and she noticed and took action, donating a scooter to him.

“She saw me and decided to do something for me, which was so nice,” he said.

Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Lorenzo recently delivered the electric scooter to him in time for Veterans Day.

He was recently awarded the Brentwood Church of the Nazarene 67th Anniversary Recognition Award for faithfulness and dedicated service. He said he is proud of all of the recognition he has received and is devoted to continuing to give back.

Arturo said he wants to help as many homeless veterans on Long Island as he can, and he is part of many organizations. His focus right now is on community and helping grow the HHLIV.

“It’s brand new and we are fundraising, doing events,” he said. “That’s what’s important to me right now — to help the homeless veterans.”