Garfield Langhorn, a Medal of Honor recipient, is seen in...

Garfield Langhorn, a Medal of Honor recipient, is seen in a photo believed to be from 1969, when he died protecting fellow soldiers in Vietnam. Credit: Handout

A special ceremony will be held Friday at the Pulaski Street elementary school in Riverhead to rename the library in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Garfield Langhorn, who was killed in Vietnam.

Pfc. Langhorn, 20, who threw himself on a live hand grenade in 1969 to save the other soldiers in his unit, attended high school in the building, which is now used by 700 fifth- and sixth-graders. Bronze plaques will be put up in the library, along with two pictures of him.

There also will be a special assembly to honor the Riverhead High School graduate at 10 a.m. The ribbon-cutting at the library will follow at 10:30 a.m.

Last year, the Riverhead post office was named for Langhorn, the only Suffolk County resident to earn the Medal of Honor. A bust of Langhorn stands outside Riverhead Town Hall.
 

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