Armor museum hails commitment for Nassau Hub veterans memorial | Long Island Business News

Officials at the Museum of American Armor are lauding the commitment by Las Vegas Sands to create a veterans memorial at the Nassau Hub. 

As part of its new lease agreement with Nassau County that paves the way for redevelopment of the 70-acre Uniondale property, Sands agreed to create the memorial and the developer has pledged to spend at least $1 million on the future memorial. 

Sands has proposed to build a $4 billion casino and entertainment resort complex on the property currently occupied by the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, which may be demolished as part of the project. The promised new memorial would ensure that veterans will continue to be honored at the site. 

“This decision by the Sands recognizes an historic truth: Returning World War II veterans reinvented Nassau County as a vibrant, dynamic suburban community. In addition, Long Island continues to be home to one of the largest veterans’ populations in the United States,” Michael Sapraicone, the armor museum’s senior trustee said in a written statement. “The naming of the Nassau Coliseum in honor of veterans was a decision made in the 1960s to honor their legacy. Today, through the efforts of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the Sands is sustaining that commitment with their pledge to create a worthy veterans memorial even if the future of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum is demolition.” 

Blakeman said that “any deal concerning the Hub must have a component for a proper memorial to Nassau County’s military veterans. That has always been a requirement in any negotiations.” 

Ron Reese, senior vice president of Global Communications and Corporate Affairs for Las Vegas Sands, said his company has a proud history of caring for and honoring veterans. 

“In Las Vegas, we have been strong supporters of the Veterans Village in its role as a housing development for homeless veterans, and we feel privileged to honor our service members here on Long Island with a new memorial alongside our proposal for the Nassau Hub,” Reese said in the statement. “The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum has an important legacy for veterans in Nassau County and throughout Long Island. We look forward to honoring that legacy and the service and sacrifice of all Long Islanders who served in the United States Armed Forces.” 

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