Local residents may have noticed an extraordinarily large sign of patriotism while traveling down Newbridge Road. Levittown resident Peter Dawson has been showing his patriotism by displaying a huge American flag, which takes up an entire side of his house. In addition to the enormous flag, Dawson also has flags of the United States Marine Corps, United States Army, United States Navy and the United States Air Force displayed in the front of the house, as well as a POW/MIA flag.

Dawson decided to display his patriotism the day before America went to war in Iraq, as his nephew is in the military.

"Very simply, I'm very patriotic, I've always had a flagpole. I feel far too many people have forgotten about 9/11. Although I'm a registered Independent and I have many different ideas, I feel that we need to be aggressive as Americans with the terrorists. I also have my nephew and godson who is a Marine."

Dawson noted that he knew the biggest flag available was the Garrison flag. He said that he called a flag company in Rockville Centre to see if they had one available and received it there. He put up the flag, having to go up on his roof to have it draped over the whole side of the house, the day before the war started.

"[President Bush] had given a threat, the guys were stationed overseas and I wanted to show patriotic support," he said. "Even before the war started, my nephew would e-mail home and say [he and other Marines] would see on the news all these people protesting. [They said] it was just 'like Vietnam, don't these people care about us?' I wanted to show them that support."

Dawson said that having a family member in the military, he understands the pain that many feel when they hear celebrities speaking out against the war.

"I don't think people can grasp the understanding of the fact that when your family is over there and you hear things like three Marines were killed, 28 were wounded and then you wait by the phone for two days," he said. "I'd like those people who get the media attention to think about what they're doing to the people's families who watch the news and hear about people being wounded."

When asked how long he plans to display the flag, Dawson said, "I don't want to take it down. The bottom line is, it was a statement in support of our president and in support of our troops," he said.

Dawson said that there are many veterans in his family, including his father, who was a first sergeant in the paratroopers during WWI; and his father-in-law, who served in the Korean War. Dawson just missed the Vietnam War by one year and his nephew is currently in the Marines and is in Iraq right now.

Dawson said that many local residents have stopped by to tell him they admire his display of patriotism.

"I've had hundreds of people stop in. People have come in to shake my hand, they send letters and notes," he said. "It's been such a wonderful community outpouring."