At the Glen Cove Memorial Day Commemoration on Monday, May 28, the Memorial Day Parade Committee honored two of Glen Cove's most dedicated veterans, American Legion Young-Simmons Post #1765's James Middleton and Willibe Wilson, for their decades of unselfish and tireless work in taking the parade to the streets each year. While the men are thanked annually, 2007 was the year they were singled out at the ceremony and presented with citations by Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi and Vincent Martinez, Sr. on behalf of the entire parade committee.

Ask them if they are wise men or wise guys, and the lifelong friends will cock their heads toward each other and tell you in unison, "He's the wise guy." But speak with each individually, and the respect of one wise man for another shines through.

Mr. Middleton, a charter member of Young-Simmons Post, formed in 1949, has been on the Glen Cove Parade Committee since 1952, not long after he returned to civilian life after serving in the Army Air Corps, now the Air Force, in World War II. A member of the Glen Cove Class of 1944, he turned 18 in November of 1943 and dutifully headed to the draft board to register. He was asked if he planned to finish school. "I told them 'Sure' and they told me 'OK,'" he said recently, adding, "but I got my 'Greetings' in January." Determined to get his diploma, he took and passed a test, and went off into the service of his country as a graduate. He was home on furlough in June of 1944, right around the time his class was graduating, but his orders had him due to return the day before commencement. He wired his commanding officer requesting a little extra time, but was told to "Report as ordered." He never got to wear his cap and gown, but to this day, wears his military uniform with honor.

He served as an Army Air Corps B-17 Crew Chief, "building models of planes and working on the real ones."

While he is currently known from Glen Cove to Augusta as a golfing enthusiast, back in the day, Mr. Middleton was known for his basketball skills. In a segregated Armed Forces in Boca Raton, FL, "Our black team beat every white team there was," he smiled, "and next thing I knew, we were flying all over stateside on the planes we worked on, playing basketball and winning every game."

After helping to establish Young-Simmons Post in Glen Cove, he worked at any and all positions offered including Membership Committee Chair, Agitant and, oh, yes, Post Commander, "seven or eight times." He was Glen Cove's Memorial Day Guest of Honor in 1976, the bicentennial year. Outside his hometown and into the county, Mr. Middleton worked his way up through the ranks, being named Nassau County Commander in 1982. On a state level, he has served as Department Chair of the Legionnaire of the Year Committee.

But it's the mention of the membership committee that brings a smile to his face and the name Willibe Wilson to his lips. "I had to chase that man through every back alley of Glen Cove for years to sign him up for the American Legion," laughed Mr. Middleton. He words were echoed by Mr. Wilson, who shook his head with amusement at the comment and said, "It's true. The Army got me more easily than Jimmy did." Fortunately for Glen Cove, Jimmy did, finally, catch his reluctant prey.

Also a product of the Glen Cove school system, Mr. Wilson was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1950, during the Korean Conflict, and was stationed in Europe for most of his service. After being in segregated outfits, it was there that Mr. Wilson found himself in a mix of black and white soldiers. He is proud to say that he was with the outfit of cannoneers that fired the 17-gun salute for Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower when he was leaving Europe to come back to the U.S.

Upon Mr. Wilson's return home, he became active in community affairs, working as a Democratic Committeeman, a Trustee of Calvary AME Church (where he is a life member), on the Board of the North Shore Council of Arts and the Board of Fire Commissioners.

In 1976, he ran down the wrong alley and found himself facing the American Legion Young-Simmons Post in the person of Jim Middleton. With no way out, he paid his financial dues, and began to pay his personal dues. When asked what he has done in service to the Legion, he said it would be easier to answer with what he hasn't done. He worked his way up through the Post, filling all duties of all elected and appointed offices, culminating the position of Post Commander in 1980, a position he held for 11 consecutive years. Obviously, Mr. Wilson was no longer reluctant.

On a county level, Mr. Wilson started his journey up that ladder. He worked as County Membership Officer and won Department and National Membership Awards for leading the Tenth District and the largest counties in the Department in membership (maybe membership recruitment was something he picked up from his friend Jimmy). From Children and Youth Chairman, Mr. Wilson ended in the office of County Commander in 1993. In 1995, he returned to Children and Youth and holds the position of Commander of the department to this day. He is also Agitant of the Nassau District of the American Legion (Long Island is divided into three districts: Nassau, Suffolk and Queens), having served as Chaplain last year. Come July, Mr. Wilson expects to be elected Treasurer. The following year, Vice Commander, with District Commander to follow.

Meanwhile, back at the Young-Simmons Post, Mr. Wilson is currently Post Agitant and edits the Post's newsletter. A respectful "How wonderful!" is treated to a low grumble, a slight smile and the comment, "Yeah, it was Jimmy's big idea. He can't type, so he got me to do it."

It's refreshing to know some true men still let the little boys inside sneak out every once in a while.