Police Shield Awarded Decades Late to Longtime Mt. Kisco Resident
An injustice to a dedicated retired Westchester County parkway police officer was made right last week in Mount Kisco.
A police shield was awarded to John Hvisch by Michael Cindrich, son of the Mount Kisco mayor.
The elder Cindrich said Hvisch was never awarded the shield when he retired from the force 37 years ago. Neither village officials nor Hvisch knew why the shield had an explanation for the oversight.
An emotional Hvisch, a village resident, said he was grateful to receive the honor.
“You made this Marine a humble man,” he said.
It’s not the only recognition Hvisch has received lately. He was recently inducted into state Sen. Greg Ball’s Veterans’ Hall of Fame.
Mayor Cindrich said Hvisch exhibited distinguished service during World War II in the Marine Corps.
Hvisch joined the Marines in January 1943, over the objections of his parents, at 17 years old, Cindrich noted. After completing training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot on Parris Island, S.C., he continued his combat training at Camp Lejeune and was eventually assigned to a communication unit.
Hvisch joined the ranks of the “Island Hopping Marines” and fought in the Mariana Island battles on Saipan and Tinian. In 1945, after the Mariana Island campaign, Hvisch fought in the largest amphibious landing in the Pacific, the 82-day battle of Okinawa.
During the war Hvisch lost many of his friends, Cindrich said, adding that he continues to keep in touch with his fellow Marines.
Cindrich said Hvisch regularly volunteers at the Mount Kisco Senior Center and is an active member of Mount Kisco’s American Legion, Moses Taylor Post 136.
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