I would like to address the residents of the Island Trees School District and the board of education. My name is Andrew Booth and I am on the board of the Island Trees/Levittown Veterans Council. I would like to thank members of the Island Trees School Board and the residents of this great school district.

I don't want to take up everyone's time going over the last six months of what went on in your school district. First, I want to address David Rubin, the school's board district counsel. Yes, a school board can name a school any way in which they choose. In the early 1960s they did just that. They named one of the district's schools Island Trees Memorial School, in honor of the veterans.

What that school was name for was not disrespected. I know this was not the school board's intention. We can go back and forth and say the school board should have taken more time to think this matter over. However, it takes a good man/woman to stand up and say 'we have to change what we did.' As adults we don't need to point fingers. As long as the school board and the residents keep communication lines open, things like this may never happen again.

I want to thank the residents who spoke for the veteran's throughout this whole ordeal. No one person can stand up and say that he made the school board change his or her mind. If there is someone out there that thinks so, they are misunderstood.

For the people who did not tire until this was done, the veterans forever will hold you in their prayers.

To the gentleman that spoke at the end of the Feb. 16 school board meeting. The last three school board meetings focused on this matter. You stated that 'there are about 10,000 houses in the Island Trees school district and about a half of a percent opposed the renaming and the board knuckled under pressure.' If in fact you did a survey and found out that only one half of a percent opposed the renaming of this school, why did you wait until the 11th hour? Or are you one of the one half percent of this great nation that do not believe veterans should get they credit the deserve? Our servicemen and women put their lives one the line every day so that people like yourself and I can vote and speak our minds; even if some minds may not agree.

Andy Booth