Salvatore J. Pedagno, Sr.

Visitation- Sunday April 14, 2019 from 2-4:30 & 7-9:30 p.m, at our West Sayville Funeral Home, 245 Main St.

Funeral Mass- Monday April 15, 2019 at 11:15 a.m. at St. John Nepomucene R.C. Church, Bohemia

Interment- Long Island National Cemetery

PLEASE NO FLOWERS. DONATIONS ARE APPRECIATED:

Wounded Warrior Project
PO Box 758517, Topeka KS 66675-8517

Dear Grandpa,

Do you remember the stories you used to tell me about you, your helicopter, and your silver bullets? Well I do and they have made me a risk-taker.

Even though I may not be flying a helicopter in a war zone, risking my life to save

others, and kicking butt at the same time I am still a risk taker. I would like to thank you for making me a risk taker.

I remember the stories you told me about how you used to kick butt. You were always a tough guy. When your

brother got drafted into Vietnam, you told him he wasn’t tough enough and took his place. You fought through

military camp slowly climbing through the ranks. You became a crew chief of a helicopter that had sharks teeth

painted on it and a door gunner. You saw the world. When you landed the helicopter in a battle, there was gun

fire surrounding you. All you saw were the injured and you knew you wouldn’t forgive yourself if you didn’t save

them, so you raced through the gun fire and carried them back to the chopper, fired a few shots, took off and

saved them. When it was time for you to come, as you left in the chopper, you watched your campsite blow up.

All of these stories have not only made me a risk-taker but have also taught me to put others before myself.

The risks I take aren’t as big as the ones you have taken but they still have a major impact on my life. When I

auditioned for stage band, I was incredibly nervous I had butterflies in my stomach I was pacing like a lunatic

outside the band room then they called my name. I sat on my drum throne, their eyes staring at me watching my

every move. I thought I blew it, I thought this is it, I am not getting into stage band. When they posted the list. I

was on my way to first period when I saw they posted it. I was so scared that I was shaking. I scanned down the list

to the percussion section praying to God some other kid was worse than me. When I saw my name, I sighed a sigh

of relief. ... At the first meeting I didn’t know what to expect. As soon as I walked in that door the teacher called

me over and asked me to sign something, I thought I was signing a commitment form, but I was wrong because

after I signed that, the words uttered out of the teachers mouth shocked me. “Congratulations you’re the

President of stage band!”. Astonished I tried to find words, but they just wouldn’t come out. I guess being a risktaker

really pays off.

Thank you for making me who I am. I am not just a risk taker because of you but I am also a caring person. I hope

that someday in the future I start to help other people with whatever they might struggle with whether it be

poverty, famine, or lack of education. I want to help them. I might even rescue animals who have been mistreated

or hurt. Some of these animals will be scared and some may be fierce but if you give them a chance they’ll turn

into your greatest companion. All the stories I have heard about risking your life to help someone have made me a

risk taker. Even if I don’t have a helicopter and bullets, I will still fight for what is right. Follow your heart, you never

know what it might lead to.

Love, Your Grandson,

Thomas Voss