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HILLSBOROUGH: Local vet feted at Disney World

by Audrey Levine, Staff Writer
   In the place where dreams come true, Hillsborough resident John Giordano was almost moved to tears by an honor more than 60 years in the making.
   Mr. Giordano, of Aspen Drive, was honored Nov. 5 as the Veteran of the Day in Disney World, and was called to participate in Magic Kingdom’s ritual flag retreat ceremony in appreciation for his service during World War II.
   ”I was completely shocked and thrilled,” said Mr. Giordano, who served in the Coast Guard from 1942 to 1946. “I had to stop the tears from coming to my eyes.”
   Mr. Giordano’s wife, Annita, said her daughter, Mary Ann Masiello, and son-in-law, Michael, had been in the Magic Kingdom the day before she arrived, and attended a flag ceremony in the evening. Ms. Giordano said they saw another veteran being honored and decided to inquire about the ceremony.
   ”Michael set it up,” Ms. Giordano said, of her son-in-law’s time spent speaking with Disney employees to convince them to honor his father-in-law’s time served. “The ceremony was very touching.”
   Ms. Giordano said Disney workers called her husband forward when they were ready to bring the flag down from its pole on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom. She said they folded the flag then passed it to him to hold as he walked with Disney’s Honor Guard in a small parade down Main Street toward Cinderella’s Castle.
   ”They folded the flag and gave it to me to hold,” Mr. Giordano said. “I felt great, being with my whole family.”
   As they neared the castle, Ms. Giordano said, the parade – which included their family walking behind, and a brass band playing songs for the Coast Guard and other branches of the Army – were stopped as Mr. Giordano received a certificate commemorating him being Veteran of the Day, in addition to a pin with Mickey Mouse saluting an American flag.
   ”They took pictures of him with the certificate and pin,” she said.
   The honor, Ms. Giordano said, was a surprise for both her husband and herself as they only found out on that day that it had been arranged.
   ”It was a surprise,” she said. “We told John about 20 minutes before and he was overcome with emotion.”
   Still, she said it was wonderful for her husband, who is very proud of his country and who, on the day of the honor, was wearing a baseball cap with an American flag and bald eagle.
   For Mr. Giordano, who did not even know that Disney World honored veterans, it was a proud moment to share with his family.
   ”I had no idea what was happening when they called me,” Mr. Giordano said. “I saw all these people cheering. It was an honor.”