In Rockville Centre, we pause to honor those who serve

In the 60th anniversary of the “Forgotten War” — the Korean conflict — veterans, village officials, police officers, firefighters and Rockville Centre residents of all generations filled the Recreation Center’s auditorium on the morning of Nov. 11 to make sure that American veterans are not forgotten.

As Rec Center staffers scrambled to add more seats to accommodate a crowd nearly double that of last year, the village’s solemn Veteran’s Day commemoration got under way with a Parade of Colors, the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation. American Legion Post 303’s Sergeant at Arms Paul Kuchler introduced Joseph Scarola, the post’s acting commander, who stood in at the event for its ailing commander, Gus Lanzo.

Representatives from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Chosin Few, the American Legion’s Ladies Auxiliary and a Gold Star mother — Marianna Winchester, whose son, Ronald was killed in Iraq, were present at the village ceremony, one of several in Rockville Centre last week to mark Veterans Day. Other commemorations included a well-attended luncheon hosted by the Men’s Club of the Sandel Senior Center on Wednesday, a visit from veterans to a kindergarten class at St. Agnes Cathedral School and a “Take a Veteran to School” event on Friday morning at South Side Middle School.

“Courage is almost a contradiction in terms,” said Mayor Mary Bossart, quoting from G.K. Chesterson in her remarks at the village commemoration. “It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die.

“As we honor the contributions of our veterans,” Bossart continued, “I want us to remember the sacrifices being made this very day by all those currently on active duty in hostile territory. Their contributions and their sacrifices are vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by the people of the United States.”

As she has in the past, Bossart spoke of the country’s obligation to the welfare of its veterans. “In these days when we talk of our desire to lower taxes, when we worry about government intrusions, let us make sure that those sentiments do not conflict with our responsibilities to our veterans to whom we owe so much.”