ANNA HERMAN was born June 6, 1912, in Beaver Falls, Pa. Anna is the oldest -- and only survivor -- of nine children born to Agnes and Frank Matheis. One-year-old Anna and her mother traveled to Hungary and were later joined by Anna's father. At 15, Anna returned to America to maintain her American citizenship. She worked as a maid and learned English. In 1932, she met and married George Herman -- who was from her parents' hometown of Arad, Hungary -- at a Hungarian dance in Manhattan. In 1934 they had a daughter, Margaret. Anna was widowed in 1971. She has three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Anna has lived in Valley Stream since the 1950s.

Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, of Bay Shore, was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His mother has made it her mission to aid active-duty service members, veterans, first responders and Gold Star families. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. Credit: Randee Daddona; Photo credit: Cathy Heighter

'His sacrifice made a difference': Gold Star mother honors son's memory Army Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, 22, of Bay Shore, was the first serviceman from Long Island killed in the Iraq War.

Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, of Bay Shore, was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His mother has made it her mission to aid active-duty service members, veterans, first responders and Gold Star families. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. Credit: Randee Daddona; Photo credit: Cathy Heighter

'His sacrifice made a difference': Gold Star mother honors son's memory Army Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, 22, of Bay Shore, was the first serviceman from Long Island killed in the Iraq War.

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