BEDFORD HILLS- New York State Senator Pete Harckham honored Alex Mandara for his induction into the 2023 New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame and commemorated his military service at a special ceremony held on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at the Bedford Hills Community Center, with nearly 50 veterans and several local officials in attendance.
At the ceremony, which preceded a meeting of the Veterans Advisory Council that Harckham hosts semi-annually, Mandara was presented with a special Senate plaque regarding his Hall of Fame induction.
“Alex served his country with distinction and is a respected leader in the Yorktown community, where he continues to make an impact on the lives of his neighbors and fellow veterans,” said Harckham. “Through his role at the Yorktown VFW, Alex is a tireless advocate for veterans and their families, coordinating programs and services for them, and ensuring they get the help they may require. It was my distinct honor to nominate Alex for induction as the 40th Senate District’s 2023 selection to the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame.”
Mandara serves as the Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8328 in Yorktown Heights, an essential gathering space for the community, allowing veterans to connect with other veterans. He was born on September 11, 1972, in the Bronx, the oldest of 5 siblings, and attended Yonkers public schools. After graduating from Roosevelt High School at 17, he decided to serve his country and enlisted in the U.S. Navy, following in the footsteps of a grandfather who had served in the U.S. Army.
After completing boot camp at Naval Station Great Lakes north of Chicago, Mandara studied to become a hull maintenance technician, and in 1991 began his service on USS Enterprise, the U.S. Navy’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, during the Gulf War. Mandara continued his service on the USS Enterprise for the next five years, finally being stationed out of Norfolk,…
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