Salute Independence 2025

November 5, 2025

6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Captain Bill's Restaurant & Catering
122 Ocean Avenue
Bay Shore, New York 11706
 

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Please join Canine Companions for the annual Salute Independence Veteran's Day awards ceremony presenting The Colonel E. David Woycik Jr., Esq., USA (Ret.) and Lance Corporal Matias Ferreira, USMC (Ret.) Outstanding Service Award to a deserving volunteer who continues to serve their local veteran community. You can learn more about these two inspiring veterans and all our 2025 Award Recipients below!

This event will include a buffet dinner, presentation of colors, Canine Companions service dog demonstration, and awards presentation to celebrate our veterans.

Colonel E. David Woycik, Jr. Esq., USA (Ret.) is a partner of the law firm of Sanders, Sanders, Block, Woycik, Viener & Grossman, P.C. in Mineola, New York. As a colonel in the United States Army Reserves, and Judge Advocate General Corps, Col. Woycik has received numerous awards and ribbons for his service. He has served overseas in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for Operation Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom in the War Against Terrorism. Some of his awards include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, and Kuwait, Global War on Terrorism Medal.

Lance Corporal Matias Ferreira, USMC (Ret.) served in the United States Marine Corps as a machine gunner with 1st Battalion 8th Marines 2nd Marine Division, stationed in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. During a combat tour to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2010, Matias stepped on an improvised explosive device causing him to lose both legs below the knees, amongst other injuries. Matias was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon and Navy Unit Citation amongst other military awards. Officer Ferreira is currently an active police officer with the Suffolk County Police Department in New York; making him the first double amputee patrolman in the country.

General John Thomas Digilio USA (Ret.)

General Digilio is a distinguished military leader and public servant whose career spans over three decades of active duty, National Guard service, and civilian leadership.

A native of Bay Shore, New York, General Digilio graduated from Bay Shore High School. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1967 through LaSalle University's Artillery ROTC program and entered active duty in 1969.

In 1970, he was deployed to the Republic of Vietnam, where he was assigned to the 95th Evacuation Hospital in Da Nang, which received some of the most significant casualties during the Vietnam War. 

Following his return from Vietnam, General Digilio joined the New York Army National Guard, where he held numerous command and staff positions over the years. 

In July 1997, he led a U.S. military and civilian team to Montevideo, Uruguay, to train the country’s senior civilian and military leadership on the health aspects of disaster preparedness, both natural and man-made.

General Digilio is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College, the Command and General Staff College, the National Security Management Program, and the Reserve Component National Security Course at the National Defense University.

He has been awarded over 24 military decorations, including:

• Legion of Merit
• Bronze Star Medal
• Meritorious Unit Citation
• Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm
• New York Army National Guard Conspicuous Service Medal

General Digilio was the first member of the New York Army National Guard to be inducted into the Order of Military Medical Merit, U.S. Army Medical Department. He was also the inaugural recipient of the Colonel Gouverneur Morris Citizen Soldier Award, presented by the Adjutant General of New York State.

He is a past commander of Bay Shore American Legion Post #365, a life member of both the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Military Order of the Cooties.

In his civilian career, General Digilio is a hands-on professional with over forty-four years of management in the Health Care field. He’s a retired Licensed Nursing Home Administrator.

"I was raised with this sense of giving back to your country and to your community. My father was a WWII Vet, my uncle was a WWII vet.  On my mother’s side, she had 3 brothers that served in the military. The idea was to give back to the country that made it possible for you to grow as you wish to." 

General Digilio's community service includes:

• Past Chairman, Board of Directors, Long Island Chapter, Arthritis Foundation
• Trustee, Children’s Leukemia Research Association
• Past First Vice President, Brightwaters Lions Club
• Past First Vice President, Bay Shore Lions Club
• Past Chairman, Suffolk County Veterans Advisory Board

General Digilio is married to the former Dianne Pilgrim of Delhi, New York, and they reside in Bay Shore, New York.

Staff Sgt. Gabe Grenci USA (Ret.)

Gabe Grenci was born on February 22, 1927, and grew up on Long Island, New York. After graduating from Babylon High School in 1945, he attempted to enlist in the U.S. Army at age 17 but was initially unsuccessful. He was later drafted and served in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations with the U.S. Army Adjutant General’s Office, Personnel Division.

During his year of service, Grenci rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. In the years that followed, he continued his military involvement with the Army National Guard and later the U.S. Navy Reserve, ultimately receiving three honorable discharges from the Armed Forces.

In 1948, Grenci began a 42-year career at Grumman Aerospace Corporation (now Northrop Grumman), where he contributed to the development of the F-14 Tomcat—a legendary carrier-based fighter jet that played a major role in U.S. air combat operations during the Vietnam War and the decades that followed.

A dedicated community member, Grenci was a founding member of the Kismet Fire Department and has been an active member of the Babylon American Legion Post 94 for an extraordinary 82 consecutive years, making him the longest-serving member in Suffolk County, NY.

He has been married for 62 years and is the proud father of four children and grandfather to 11 grandchildren.

Airman 2nd Class Victor T. Liotta USAF (Ret.)

United States Air Force Veteran Victor T. Liotta had a distinguished career in the military, serving 4 years as an Airman 2nd Class during the Korean War.  He returned home with a steadfast dedication to making a meaningful difference in his community. He married his wife Rosie in 1959, and they raised 4 children. 

After retiring from the military, Victor served his community as a volunteer firefighter. He ran his own business Liotta and Sons for more than 50 years and served with the Kiwanis Club for over 50 years. Victor’s service has directly impacted hundreds of people, bringing stability, support, and inspiration to underserved communities dedicating themselves to improving the world one child at a time. 
What sets Victor apart is his humility, resilience, and unwavering sense of duty. The same values that made him a respected member of the Armed Forces continued to guide him in his civilian service, earning the admiration of peers, community leaders, and those whose lives he’s touched.

Victor exemplifies what it means to serve — not just in uniform, but in heart and action.

Sgt. Tommy Sullivan USA (Ret.)

Internationally renowned musician Tommy Sullivan has entertained audiences all over the world, but he’s most proud of his service to our country as a US Army veteran! Tommy joined the Army after graduating from Hicksville High School in 1963. His prowess with music became evident while in basic training. Billeted as a musician, he graduated basic and was sent to West Point to become part of the "classical" band. The West Point Band has a magical history dating back to the Revolutionary War. After being at the Point for a while, he toyed with an idea to introduce a "different kind" of music to the cadets. He nurtured the idea of forming a rock band with the military command at the academy and convinced them an addition would benefit West Point, the first of its kind.  After serving in the Army for three years during the Vietnam War, Tommy became a founding member and musical director of the original Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge with numerous hit records, and performing all over the world including an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show!  Not only did Tommy serve our country, but he continues to serve our community. A strong supporter of his fellow veterans, Tommy regularly donates performances every year to fundraisers which help vets and their families. Tommy is a charter member of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. “I'm 60 years a proud veteran,” says Tommy. “From the Revolutionary War, to the Civil War, both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf, War on Terror, heroes ALL, deserving of our immense respect, thanks and love-now and forever.”

Specialist E-4 Tarik Griggs USA (Veteran)

In 1989, Tarik Griggs joined the US Army on his 18th birthday. A year later, the United States was on the brink of entering the Gulf War. During this chaotic time, Tarik was stationed in Europe and found himself facing stressors. But he thought that if he just buried the emotional stress, then he wouldn’t have to confront it. 

Three years later, Tarik came back to the United States to attend undergraduate and graduate school, earning an MBA and working at major financial firms like JP Morgan and Vanguard.

But his time in the service left him diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Rounds of PTSD episodes exacerbated medical conditions and caused other symptoms.

The coronavirus pandemic only made the situation worse as Tarik faced even more stressors. He sought help and after remembering a conversation with a fellow veteran about the relief his service dog gave him, Tarik applied with Canine Companions, and was matched with service dog Walter.  Since graduating, Tarik has become an active spokesperson for Canine Companions’ Veterans Initiative, speaking to fellow veterans about the benefits of an expertly trained service dog.  

“I’m thankful that I was matched with Walter. I’m thankful that we have this routine. I’m thankful that I’m staying grounded. And I’m also thankful for the fact that when I do have a PTSD episode, that I know that he’s here. Applying for a service dog was one of the best decisions I’ve made in 30 years. Walter is my lifeline!”