As is always the case, the New Hyde Park Chapter of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars joined forces and held a very moving ceremony to remember the veterans of New Hyde Park on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m.

The veterans in the village lined the sidewalk surrounding the village and the two Commanders Chuck Ulrich, of the American Legion Ernie Pyle Post No. 1089 and Veterans of Foreign Wars G.& E Linder Post No. 8031 were both on hand to lead their troops during the ceremony.

The main focus of the day was the speech by New Hyde Park Village Mayor Daniel Petruccio, who is always so very eloquent. Petruccio, who is also a history teacher at Chaminade High School said, "I am asked by my students, 'why, why do men wage war?' For Americans living in the 20th and 21st century the answer to that question is not so simple."

Petruccio went on to say, "There are several reasons: (1) Protection of a way of life. (2) Concern for one's fellow man. (3) Patriotism. (4) Ultimately-survival. The nature of warfare has drastically changed the course of history. Traditional reasons for waging war were more basic and simple. Territorial expansion; desire to dominate another people and the need for raw materials. But, finally, it also came down to survival."

Petruccio continued, " Aristotle said, 'We make war that we may live in peace.' Peace is the key to our survival as a nation and as a civilization. Our enemy doesn't believe we have a right to live in a free democratic pluralistic society. They have a world vision which is totalitarian and has room for only one type of religion and culture. The battle doesn't end in the sands of Iraq, just like it didn't end on the beaches of Normandy or on the top of Pork Chop Hill or in the rice paddies of the Mekong. The face of the enemy has changed but the stakes are just as high."

Petruccio said, "In the midst of the darkest hours of World War II Winston Churchill said, 'Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be, for without victory, there is no survival: In other countries Veterans Day is called Remembrance Day. I believe we are in the position we are in today because we forgot, we forgot the sacrifices and dedication exhibited by the veterans we honor today. We have had it too easy for too long. My generation has never really known war and now we are paying the consequences."

Petruccio ended his very effective talk by saying, "I would like to leave you with this thought from President Richard Nixon. 'We must always remember that America is a great nation today not because of what government did for the people but because of what people did for themselves and for one another."

The next portion of the program consisted of laying the wreaths at the Veterans Memorial Rock in front of New Hyde Park Village Hall and then Commander Obertis gave out a number of citations to various people in the community who have displayed patriotism.