Joe Cognitore

VFW Post 6249 Rocky Point Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander and a long time leadership figure within the New York State and National Veterans of Foreign Wars Departments

A native of Farmingdale who was a talented football player, wrestler, and track runner.  Joe attended Dakota Wesleyan University and attained a teaching degree.  Once he graduated, Joe was drafted into the United States Army in 1969, was sent to Fort Polk to "Tigerland" to train for being deployed to Vietnam.  As the war was in its last phase, Joe was a Platoon Sergeant that operated near the Ho Chi Minh Trail, went on Search and Destroy Missions, and operated in Cambodia.  This VFW Commander worked with American and South Vietnamese military forces, and he took prisoner North Vietnamese and Vietcong.  Returning home, Joe was a a teacher, was married to his life long partner Cathy, and had two sons Joseph and Cristopher.  His son Joseph, is currently a Colonel and a high ranking figure within the Michigan State Military Command who attended the War College and was deployed to Afghanistan and South Korea.  For decades, Joe was in a leadership position at Coca-Cola and always donated his time to support Rocky Point High School.  When the First Gulf War began, Joe became a more active member of the Rocky Point VFW to help ensure that our local soldiers were properly supported at home and abroad.  For decades, Joe has been in a number of leadership positions in the VFW on the local, state, and federal levels.  He was a key member and now the organizer of the Wounded Warrior Golf Outing Committee that has raised over $300,000, been involved in the homes for veteran's project, key advocate for PTSD Awareness through the VFW Post 6249 PTSD Run and the Joseph Dwyer Statue, helped organize the Rocky Point Concert Series, was a key member of the Diamond in the Pines 9/11/01 Learning Site, and supported the Rocky Point High School Veterans Wall of Honor.  Always armed with a big smile and a can-do attitude, Joe is one of the most important Veteran's Affairs Advocates in New York State.  VFW Post 6249 is one of the most productive posts in this nation and it has flourished under his leadership.