A day, a weekend, a month, a year to remember

I love the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. I would also like more money to spend on Christmas gifts and an old-fashioned snowball fight, but until then, I’ll take what I can.

Last weekend, both East Rockaway and Lynbrook villages held their holiday festivities on the same night, at the same time. Are they trying to wear me out?

Not to be deterred, I went over to Atlantic Avenue in Lynbrook, and spent some time with the revelers there. I came face to face with a llama, tasted some sweet treats, and just enjoyed the cool, festive evening.

Running south (well, driving actually) I caught the tree lighting at East Rockaway Village Hall, and the holiday parade of residents down to Main Street,where all the action was going on. My grandson, Thomas and I rode on the horse-drawn truck, which was a great vantage point for photos and people watching.

On Main Street, a smaller tree lighting took place, along with live entertainment, hot cocoa and Santa Claus, who was stationed in the American Legion Hall. What a fun night! If you missed it, or would like to relive it, see page 17 or go online for more photos and a video at www.liherald.com and click East Rockaway or Lynbrook.

Remembering and

documenting

On Saturday, I headed up a Herald team to document the experiences of our local World War II veterans. Some sources say that we are losing these heroes at the rate of 1,000 a day. It’s for this reason that we got together with some local gentlemen (and a lady, a former WAC) and had them tell their stories. We recorded, photographed, and videotaped the day. They cried, argued, laughed, reminisced — and we were in awe. I don’t know how we’ll present it in the Herald — maybe a series of stories and videos — but the important thing it, they have told their stories, and we wrote it down. We’ll be doing this with more local veterans organizations in the near future.

On Monday, elementary school students, teachers, veterans and village officials went down to the waterfront to commemorate the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. A day that will live in infamy. Let us not ever forget. See Deputy Mayor Meagher’s Letter to the Editor in this issue.

Shop local, and enjoy your pre-holiday week!

Comments about this column? MMalloy@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 202.