Merrick honors fallen crossing guard with street sign dedication
A new street sign in Merrick honors fallen Nassau County crossing guard John Miro, who was killed by an impaired driver while serving his community.
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A fallen Nassau County crossing guard is being remembered with a lasting tribute in Merrick after community members and officials gathered Sunday morning to dedicate a street sign in his honor.
The corner of Merrick Avenue and Sunrise Highway, the same intersection where John Miro was struck and killed by a suspected impaired driver while working last winter, has now been renamed John Miro Way.
Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said the tribute ensures Miro’s legacy will remain visible to everyone who passes through the area.
“His name will be up there forever. People will pass by. Hopefully, one day a father will look down at his son and say that is a sign for a hero,” Ryder said. “Somebody that served this county to make it safe so this young man can grow up in this county.”
Police officials said Miro served as a crossing guard for about three years. He is also the first civilian member of the Nassau County Police Department to lose his life in the line of duty.
At the ceremony, colleagues and community members reflected on the impact he had during his time on the job, describing him as a steady, caring presence who took pride in his role protecting children.
“Grandpa never took a day off. He remembered everyone ’s name and bought candy for the kids on Halloween. That is who my Grandpa is. Selfless and kind to everyone he encountered,” said his granddaughter, Giavonna DeBono.
For his daughter, the street renaming stands as both a public honor and a personal comfort.
“I can picture my dad looking down on us today with the biggest smile on his face and proudly saying, ‘Look at this, I have a street named after me,’” said Elaine DeBono. “I can hear his laughter as he says it, and that thought brings us all comfort.”
The dedication of John Miro Way ensures that his name will remain part of the community he served, at the very intersection where he worked every day to keep others safe.
