CORONA — The longtime leader of the Langston Hughes library was inducted this week into the New York State Senate Veterans' Hall of Fame.
Andrew Jackson, who is also known as Sekou Molefi Baako, served in the United States Air Force for four years and was assigned to the 4th Air Commando Squadron at Nha Trang Air Base in Vietnam in the 1960s.
The East Elmhurst native also served as the director of the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center on Northern Boulevard for more than three decades, a job he retired from earlier this year.
“The Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame pays tribute to all those who serve, but singles out special recognition of those whose sacrifices and service have helped make our nation and our communities better places to live, and Mr. Jackson is a clear example of that combination," State Sen. Jose Peralta said.
Jackson is also a professor at Queens and York colleges and serves on the board of many groups.
He said he accepted the award on behalf of his fellow soldiers.
"Vietnam veterans still feel the pain for how we were received when we returned home from the war,” Jackson said.
“I accept this high honor for all my brothers-in-arms who never came home, as well as those of us who left a part of ourselves somewhere in Vietnam...thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
