Town Honors Late Navy Cross Recipient

Just under 70 years ago, a Marine on a Pacific island in the middle of World War II acted in an instant when an enemy grenade was thrown into a trench with him and five other men, picking it up and throwing it back out as fast as he could. The grenade took his hand, though Pfc. Frank Celentano would go on to live to the ripe old age of 90, with most of his years at a home on King Road in Rocky Point.

Recently, the Brookhaven Town Board honored the fallen Marine and Navy Cross recipient – who died just over a year ago – by dedicating King Road after him.

"It's an honor," said his son, Jack, who still lives at the home with his brother. "He lived in Rocky Point most of his life. He knew everybody in Rocky Point."

The town is expected to hold a dedication ceremony in coming months for Celentano, who had nine children and a whopping 53 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Councilwoman Jane Bonner helped pass the designation, which will make King Road just the second road in the hamlet to be named after a local veteran, along with Garland Road, which is named after Lt. John Fernandez, who served in the Iraq War, lost both of his legs in an explosion, and returned home. The local VFW sits, fittingly, at the intersection of Garland and King.

"It's such a proud moment for the community of Rocky Point to have a war hero in their midst," Bonner said.

However, Jack said his dad was always uncomfortable with being labeled a "hero." 

"He didn't like being called a hero. He said heros were in the graveyard," Jack said. But one year after he was buried at Calverton National Cemetery, Jack added, "I guess he was right. Maybe heros are in the graveyard."