Hundreds of residents from local communities gathered at Veterans Memorial Park in Levittown on Monday evening for a rally to show their support for United States troops overseas fighting in the war in Iraq. The event was hosted by Nassau County Republican Chairman Joe Mondello, who together with local veterans organizations, dignitaries and elected officials spoke about the importance of supporting the men and women in our armed forces.

Event organizers felt Levittown was a fitting location for the rally as Levittown is a community that was built for veterans by veterans, creating homes for thousands of returning WWII military personnel.

"I'm not here to praise war or to say that type of suffering is right," Mondello said. "I'm here to say that we support our troops, we support our country, and we support our president."

Levittown VFW Post 9595, the Vietnam Veterans of America and the Massapequa Veterans of Foreign Wars all had their color guards at the ceremony and posted the colors.

Among those who spoke at the event were Father Jerry Ringenback, pastor of St. Bernard's Church in Levittown, and Rabbi Stanley Dreifuss of the Israel Community Center in Levittown.

"God - you guide us on a path of righteousness and truth. Listen now to the cry of your people, for our hearts are heavy, our anguish deep. We're filled with fear and anxiety - our country is engaged in a great conflict and we pray for peace," Father Jerry said.

"May our civil and military leaders be enlightened by your wisdom and your justice, that their decisions guide our world to a lasting peace. May the men and women of our armed forces, whose very lives are at risk, be kept safe from all harm and be soon reunited to their families and loved ones," Father Jerry added. "May the people of our land cherish even more deeply what we often take for granted - the gift of freedom and the right of self-expression. May we never tire of seeking the way of justice and peace."

Rabbi Dreifuss noted, "We ask wisdom for troops - that they may pursue the struggle in which they have been engaged with the spirit [of] compassion for the people who they will encounter who have done nothing but suffer [for] many years. We ask that you'll encourage them to persevere [and] that you'll bring them home safely."

"We hate war, but we love our men and women who are serving and we're here for them, to show that we are behind them," Mondello said.

Many residents who were in attendance, particularly veterans, said that the most important thing to do now that the war has moved forward is to show the troops that they have their country's support behind them.

"This rally is not being held in support of war and the carnage it brings. We're not here to glorify cruise missiles or stealth bombers. We're here for one reason and one reason only - the troops who are fighting to liberate Iraq are Americans. These American men and women are our neighbors, our colleagues, our family, our friends," Mondello said.

Residents at the rally proved just that, many holding up photos or banners depicting the names of loved ones who are overseas.

"This evening they will hear from us that we stand with them united and strong as fellow Americans. All of them have earned the respect and solidarity of a nation that has sent its fighting troops off to a war," Mondello said. "There are those who have taken to the streets to protest this conflict. That is their constitutional right and their march is a dramatic reaffirmation of the strength and integrity of this democracy. But it is profoundly wrong to give comfort to our enemies. It is profoundly wrong when your protest seeks to soil the spirit of this republic and damage our nation's commitment to preserve, defend and protect its citizens. It is profoundly wrong when your protest mocks the very principles upon which this country was founded, including the freedom from fear. And it is profoundly wrong to abandon our soldiers who are liberating a dictatorship while protecting the future of our nation and in no small measure the fate of the world."

Mondello reaffirmed many people's belief that Levittown was a fitting location to hold the event.

"This rally is being held in Levittown - if there is a place without pretense, Levittown is that community. This is a town where hard-working families live in neighborhoods that welcomed home the American GI after WWII. There are generations of veterans who live here, and cops and firefighters - men who will never forget the horrors of September 11 but who went back to the job after burying their colleagues. This town is the sinew of America. And so we gather here in Levittown to send a message some 6,000 miles away - let the [troops] know that Levittown and Long Island stand with [them]."

County Legislator Dennis Dunne, president of the Levittown-Island Trees Veterans Council, noted that many of the troops overseas are local residents who grew up in Levittown. He said that many are alumni of the school district, firefighters, neighbors and friends that need the support of their community.

"I'm going to ask one thing of you. If you have the flier announcing today's rally- write a letter to a GI on the back of that flier and get to somebody at the VFW or American Legion and we'll get it to a trooper," he said. "He or she is going to read a letter from somebody back home who cares about them. Then they're going to turn it over and see that it's not all protest, [that] there's rallies showing that we care about them."

Congressman Peter King was also on hand, noting that such showings of support are very necessary, especially since this conflict will not be an easy one.

"This is what the real America is all about - the men and women who love our country, the men and women who stand behind our troops, the men and women who realize that we must support our president as our commander in chief and we must destroy and eliminate once and for all Saddam Hussein and his weapons of mass destruction," King said. "We're going to have some very tough days ahead. This is not going to be an easy war, we never said it was going to be easy. These men and women - they are going to win and they're going to win big because [we] are standing behind them. It's so important that the president of the United States know that people like you are behind him. You are sending a message to Washington and more importantly you are sending a message to Baghdad."

Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray, a lifelong resident of Levittown, urged residents to give those overseas 150 percent support.

"Levittown was built to serve our returning GIs like my father who had served so valiantly in WWII and the men and women of the United States Military are again making great sacrifices to ensure that all of us live in peace and freedom," she said. "Operation Iraqi Freedom is vital to ending the tyranny of Saddam Hussein and preventing atrocities such as we experienced on September 11. Our men and women are performing valiantly and clearly victory over tyranny and terrorism is absolutely assured."

Murray continued, noting that many residents have been asking what they can do to show support for troops overseas, aside from attending such rallies. She said that calling cards can be donated through Operation UpLink; residents can also send greeting cards via Operation Dear Abbey; they can make a donation to one of the military relief societies or volunteer at a VA hospital. She further noted that right in Levittown, the American Legion is collecting supplies to be sent overseas.

American Legion Post 1711 is collecting non-perishable items at their post location at 3123 North Jerusalem Road in Levittown. The following items are suggested: toothpaste, suntan lotion, deodorant, breakfast bars, chewing gum, small chips, small cookies, Gatorade, Crystal Light and beef jerky. For more information, contact the post at 731-9114.

The rally consisted of dozens of cries of "USA," with all in attendance holding up American flags provided to them by veterans organizations at the start of the event. All in attendance left the rally uplifted and agreeing on one important thing - that overseas troops must be supported and, more importantly, hope they all return home safely soon.