On Friday, Nov. 9, we attended a ceremony at the Island Trees Memorial Middle School honoring the 33 heroes from the Island Trees and Levittown communities, who gave their lives for this country. We owe them and their families a great debt that never can be repaid. The ceremony included a plaque with 33 names, three from the Korean War, 29 from the Vietnam War and one from the War in Iraq.

It was touching to hear David Mannlein read his tribute on what the American Flag means to him. He made us proud to be a part of the Island Trees community and of course proud to be an American. We would like to thank the Island Trees School Superintendent James Parla and the board of education, Andy Booth and the American Legion Post 1711, the VFW Post 9592 and the Levittown/Island Trees Veterans Council, Sean Burns and the Island Trees Memorial Social Studies students who read each of the 33 names and Peter Gibbons and the chorus who added so much to the ceremony and to all the others who worked so hard to make this possible.

John and Diane Kirk