The Town Board, along with other local elected officials, the Department of Public Safety, and veterans service groups will unveil the newly renamed Peter Nowick Sr. Memorial Park sign immediately following the June 12th Work Session in a special dedication ceremony. The unveiling ceremony will include an Honor Guard Salute to be led by Supervisor Ed Wehrheim and Councilwoman Lynne Nowick as master of ceremonies.
On May 8th, 2018, the Town Board unanimously voted to dedicate the park, previously known as Landing Avenue Park, in honor Peter Nowick Sr. for his dedication to public service and the contributions made to the Town of Smithtown.
About Peter Nowick Sr.
As a boy, Peter Nowick Sr. relocated from Garden City with his family to the Town of Smithtown in the 1930’s. He worked as a farmer in Kings Park as a boy before enlisting to serve his country in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. On December 12th, 1941, just five days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Peter Nowick Sr. was commissioned as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps. While serving 12 months in the South Pacific as squadron commander, Major Nowick was credited with downing two enemy aircraft in one encounter. He was awarded a citation for leading his squadron on the deepest penetration into enemy territory by a fighter aircraft (P-51) on a mission over Southeast Asia. Major Nowick flew 35 combat missions, was the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, five Air Medals and the Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon. Nowick Sr. was discharged from active duty in January 1946, remaining as a Major in the Air Force Reserves until 1957.
He served as an elected justice of the peace and a town councilman for the Town of Smithtown, N.Y. for 20 years. Additionally, Nowick Sr. chaired the Town Planning, Engineering and Traffic Safety Committees.