Although the feelings that prompted the writings on The Bridge in those first raw days and weeks are scorched on our hearts, weather and time are causing the words, written in sorrow, anger and dedication to freedom, to fade. In time, the Bridge will probably be painted and neatened leaving a dignified plaque and a vivid flag to memorialize an event of such deep reverberations that it sometimes defies words.

We do not want those passionate messages to be lost to time and the elements. The words we use to record our history on a human level are vital to a multi-dimensional remembering.

And so, in October, the ''Annual Guide to Great Neck'' will record many of the messages left there and contain photographs taken on the Bridge. We are currently selecting photographs for the supplement and if you have one that you feel captures one of many special moments that occurred as we as a community came together, we would be grateful for the loan of it.

Please call us at 482-4490 if you would like to be a part of this effort.

- Carol Frank