NEWS RELEASE
April 13, 2023
Contact: Robert Cornicelli, Veteran Recovery Coalition
(516) 369-8667
www.veteranrecoverycoalition.com
Town Inspector Honored for Volunteer Service
Veterans Organization Bestows Lifetime Achievement Award
Representatives from the Veteran Recovery Coalition visited Southampton Town Hall Tuesday to recognize a town employee who is also one of the group’s sterling volunteers.
Retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant Allan Fajardo, an Ordinance Inspector with the Town’s Investigations and Enforcement Unit, was awarded the Coalition’s Lifetime Achievement Certificate.
Known affectionately as “Sarge,” Fajardo served 22 years in the United States Army, including five tours in Iraq, two in Afghanistan, as well as Kosovo and Somalia, according to retired US Army Captain and Coalition founder, Robert Cornicelli. Fajardo’s efforts, he said, have been essential to carrying out the organization’s mission of helping American veterans re-enter civilian life. Each year, the group caters holiday dinners to more than 260 homeless and substance-dependent veterans in 33 shelters across Long Island. The special days include Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Super Bowl Sunday, Saint Patrick’s Day, Easter, Passover, and Memorial Day.
“We ensure all homeless veterans and those with substance dependency have every toy off their children’s list for Christmas and Hanukkah,” said Cornicelli. “We also cover any and all bills that stand in the way of veterans in need getting back into the workforce.”
After his retirement from military service, Fajardo decided to continue his career in public safety on the local level. Hired as a Spanish Speaking Ordinance Inspector for Southampton Town in 2018, he performs inspections and investigations to determine compliance with state and local laws pertaining to building, zoning, property maintenance, and rental properties, among other areas.
