Event helps slain LI soldier's mom heal

Michele McNaughton grieves for her son the only way she knows how -- by hanging out at his favorite spot with his favorite people, for causes he would hold dear.

Saturday, she was at Mulcahy's Pub and Concert Hall in Wantagh for the seventh consecutive year to raise funds in memory of her son, Army Staff Sgt. James D. McNaughton, the first NYPD officer to be killed while serving in Iraq.

"This is my way to deal with his loss," she said. "It honors him and the person that he was. It carries his name forward by helping other veterans and soldiers who might need help."

Hundreds of people braved icy road conditions Saturday to pay tribute.

"We think this weather is Jimmy's sense of humor," said his mother, a Centereach resident, chuckling. "He must have been thinking how to make it harder for us."

McNaughton's family and friends celebrated his life and honored his bravery during the annual benefit to raise money for the James McNaughton Foundation, which is run by his parents, both retired New York Police Department officers. The scheduled seven-hour event featured live music, raffles, giveaways and food.

"It is Jimmy's name that brings people here," said his father, William, who served in the Army as a cook.

McNaughton, 27, a member of the Army Reserve's 306th Military Police Battalion in Uniondale, was killed by a sniper Aug. 2, 2005, while serving at Camp Victory in Baghdad.

McNaughton, who was a squad leader, volunteered for the mission, said Vinny Zecca, 33, of Centereach, who helped organize the event and was McNaughton's longtime friend.

"He always used to say going to Iraq was like going to the Super Bowl," Zecca said.

Last year's event drew more than 1,200 people and raised almost $15,000 to benefit the Centereach High School scholarship fund, the Wounded Warrior Project, 9-1-1 Veterans and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.

About the same figures were expected for Saturday's event, his parents said.

McNaughton joined the Army after graduating from Centereach High School in 1996. He served for five years before enlisting in the Army Reserve.

He later joined the New York Police Department and was assigned to lower Manhattan, his parents said.

"Unfortunately, I put him on his last mission," said retired Sgt. Maj. Chris Rodriguez, 51, of West Point, who was McNaughton's Army supervisor. "He was always looking for a challenge, and I knew I could depend on him."