Nonprofit leader breaks silence, blames Nassau for delay in adding names to veterans memorial
For the first time, the Vietnam veteran who leads the nonprofit behind the memorial is speaking out, placing the blame for the prolonged delay directly on Nassau County officials.
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A News 12 Turn To Tara follow-up investigation reveals new details in the ongoing dispute surrounding Nassau County’s Walls of Honor at Eisenhower Park, months after the team first reported that dozens of veterans' names were missing.
For the first time, Morris Miller - a Vietnam veteran who leads the nonprofit behind the memorial - is speaking out, placing the blame for the prolonged delay directly on Nassau County officials.
"I will tell you right now on television, if I get the go-ahead from the county to put the names up, I will start on it tomorrow," said Miller.
The controversy first came to light in June, when Turn To Tara introduced viewers to Alan Greenfield. Greenfield paid nearly a year ago to have his late father, a Korean War veteran, commemorated on the wall. His father’s name has still not been added.
Miller says the backlog stems from actions taken by the nonprofit's former president, who allegedly asked the county for hundreds of thousands of dollars in expansion funds without board approval. He says that move led to a complete breakdown in relations with Nassau County.
Nassau County then announced plans to assume direct oversight of the memorial, stating the transition will ensure families are served in a more timely and professional manner.
Miller noted that his board has since rewritten its bylaws, agreed to major governance reforms and even offered to dissolve the nonprofit entirely - provided the county permits them to host one final ceremony to honor the more than 100 veterans currently waiting.
He says the county rejected the offer.
"We have the money, we're ready to do it," Miller said. "They will not allow us to put the names on the wall."
Miller says the stalemate has taken a deep personal toll.
"I'm a combat veteran and it's brought me to tears because these people paid to have their names put up to be honored and we can't do it," he said.
While both sides maintain that their goal is to honor local veterans, they remain deadlocked on how to move forward.
Miller says if they can't hold the ceremony, they will refund the impacted families.
