This letter is in regard to the passing of my very good, longtime friend, former chief of the Glen Cove Police Department, Gerald Giordano (retired), who passed away May 30.

I considered myself to be very fortunate to have been considered by Gerald Giordano to be his friend for the more than 70 years. He had considered me to be such a friend that he had asked me to be his best man at his wedding in 1955 and also to be his son Gerald's godparent in 1957. I considered both a great honor and accepted them as a great honor.

I first met my friend Gerald going back many years during the time Glen Theater was operating here in Glen Cove. Gerald, along with Jack Canarick and Robert Meyer (recently deceased) and myself were four of the 50 original charter members of the Glen Cove Auxiliary Police when it was formed in October 1950. The four of us have been the closest of friends until ... I am very sorry to see two of my closest friends pass on.

Gerald was appointed to the Glen Cove Police Department about 1954, just prior to my becoming the chief of the Glen Cove Auxiliary Police, and in later years he became chief of the Glen Cove Police Department. His friends will miss him; I know I will. I want to thank his son and sister-in-law Gertrude for asking me to ride with them to the church and to the cemetery and to consider me a part of the family group. It was a great honor. I was honored when the funeral director requested me at the grave site to present the American flag to Gerald's son Gerald. I am very pleased that I had my Legion cap with me and that I was able to render a final salute to my very good friend, American Legionnaire and World War II veteran. We shall miss you, Gerald, my friend.

Joseph E. Cunningham