Harry Jackson, right, at Memorial Day Ceremonies in Amityville Village. Mayor Peter T. Imbert is shown at left. Photo by Joe Turner. Hundreds of people gathered at the Powell Funeral Home to pay their respects to Harry Jackson, a longtime resident of Amityville,who died September 14, 2006 at Long Island Jewish Hospital. He was 65 years old.

Mr. Jackson was born January 1, 1941 in Westbury to James Alfred and Geraldine (Dorsey) Lassiter. He graduated from Amityville High School in 1958 and entered the U.S. Army in November 1961 where he served as a medical records clerk and achieved the rank of staff sergeant. He received the Vietnam Service Medal (Bronze Sercommand vice Star), the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal as a marksman. Mr. Jackson married his childhood sweetheart Jacqueline Cena Yancy in January 1962. Shortly thereafter they decided to make Amityville their home where they resided and raised a family for almost 45 years.

"Harry was an ordinary man who lived an extraordinary life, going day to day doing the best he could," said Gardner De Witt who knew Mr. Jackson for many years. "When President John F. Kennedy said 'Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country', he listened-and lived it."

In 1968 Mr. Jackson entered the New York Police Department where his first assignment was within the Tactical Patrol Unit. Later he was promoted to special aide to the NYPD's then second in Chief Robert Johnson under the administration of Commissioner Benjamin Ward. He held this position until his retirement in 1984. While attending night school, he earned his bachelor of arts in psychology from New York Institute of Technology in 1980. Mr. Jackson was an active member of the American Legion. He served as the commander of the Hunter Squires Jackson Post No. 1218 in Amityville as well as the judge advocate. From 1991-1993 Harry served as the commander of the Suffolk County American Legion, and at that time, it was only the second time in history of Suffolk County that a member of the American Legion had served two consecutive terms. During his long active tenure with the American Legion, he served as the 10th district commander in 1999 and represented the county as protocol chairman, national commander's dinner chairman and legislative chairman. Recently he served the district as the by-law committee chairman and the department as a member on the special activities board from 2000 to 2005 and on the special projects board from 2005 to 2006. He also served on the state finance committee and headed the state legislative committee. Mr. Jackson was the national vice chairman on the distinguished guest committee board from 2005 to 2006; and most recently he served as post adjutant for the Hunter Squires Jackson Post 1218. In all he dedicate nearly 40 years of active service to the American Legion. He received a presidential appointment to the federal government's Selective Service Board and was honored with membership in the A.N.A.V.I.C.U.S. He was also a member of the NAACP and a constant advocate in the community. An avid sports fan, he enjoyed listening to an array of music. He loved to dance, sing and travel.

Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Jackie of Amityville; his two daughters Tanya Jackson-Tyson and Beatrix Jackson; his son Harry Jr.; his brothers Raymond and Alfred; his sisters Grace and Lorraine Jackson and Nana Lassiter-Bowser; his sisters-in-

law Audrey Gadson and Judith Douglas; his son-in-law Roberto Tyson; his goddaughter Talanta Clarke; his godson Ralph Douglas Jr. and many nieces, nephews, cousins, family members and friends.

The Reverend Barbara Hosner said the funeral service in the Hunter Squires Jackson American Legion Hall Friday, September 22, 2006 followed by interment in Long Island National Cemetery at Calverton with military honors. Arrangements were under the directions of the Powell Funeral Home, 67 Broadway, Amityville.