Memorial Day in Port Washington is one of the town's annual shining moments. As a resident for more than 30 years whose family has served this country since the Civil War, it has given me great pride each year to see our community come together to honor our nation's heroes. On Memorial Day 2003, as we all awoke to the dreary, cold, rainy morning, with all the temptation of staying in a nice warm dry bed, I could not help but think about all those veterans who served our country fighting in foxholes and on battlefields in the same kind of weather for days on end. I'm sure it was cold, wet and a hot meal would be the most welcome gift for many. They suffered all the horrors of war and for some, the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy today - our freedom through their sacrifice, and with that thought, I knew I had to get up - how dare I think of my comfort over their so deserved homage and tribute.

It is an obligation that every American citizen should remember and honor all veterans on Memorial Day. The sparse crowd of Port who showed up apparently felt the same. Some young, some old, as we watched the two grand marshals, WWII veterans who did not shun their duty to remember and honor their comrades on this Memorial Day. The veterans who spoke at the presiding ceremony were not the movies, but the real deal as they spoke about their service during WWII. As their numbers dwindle, they did not forget veterans of other wars and the Port citizens now serving in Iraq and are still in unknown danger as each day passes.

It is my hope that Port never forgets its sons and daughters who serve our country, display our flag with respect and fulfill our responsibility to "never forget" veterans each and every Memorial Day. Although the turnout was disappointing, the weather was befitting the significance of the day, as one speaker stated, "It was like tears from above for those who were lost." The large crowds, the pre-barbecue celebratory almost carnival-like atmosphere on the usually beautiful spring day was missing. It was smaller in numbers but dignified and solemn as it should be and the strong-of-heart showed their dedication to this sacred day in America. God bless our veterans, everyone who marched and everyone in our community who got out there and applauded them.

God Bless America.

Sandie Piccininni