Raynham Hall Museum took its rightful place in this year's Fourth of July parade. Harriet Gerard Clark, executive director; Jessica Semins, education coordinator and Theresa Skvarla, assistant director marched behind the museum's banner. Without the work of Robert Townsend of Raynham Hall, a.k.a., Culper, Jr. of the George Washington Spy Ring, there might not be a Fourth of July to celebrate.

Raynham Hall, then called The Homestead, was the house in which Samuel and his wife Sarah Stoddard Townsend made a home for a large family of eight children and built a thriving mercantile business. According to the Raynham Hall Museum website: "Although most of Oyster Bay favored the Loyalists during the American Revolution, Samuel's sympathies were with the Patriots. Following the colonists' defeat in 1776 at the Battle of Long Island, the British army occupied the town until the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783. For a six-month period from 1778 to 1779, the Townsend home served as British headquarters for the Queen's Rangers led by Lt. Col. John Graves Simcoe.

"Lt. Col. Simcoe was often visited by British officer Major John Andre. According to legend, on one of these visits Samuel's daughter Sally overheard the two officers discussing Benedict Arnold's traitorous plot to surrender the fort at West Point to the British. Sally passed this information to the patriot Culper Spy Ring via her brother Robert ("Culper Junior"). The plot was thwarted, and Major Andre captured and hanged. Benedict Arnold escaped to the British."

Reginald Butt, chairman of the Fourth of July parade, mentioned the ladies from Raynham Hall Museum marching in costume, as he opened the ceremonies at the Derby-Hall bandstand.

Boy Scouts from Troop 299 offered the Pledge of Allegiance. The Quentin Roosevelt Post #4 sponsors Boy Scout Troop 299. The voice of Jim Foote, TR impersonator, could be heard reciting the words, over the loudspeaker.

Mr. Butt, former Nassau County American Legion Commander, told the listeners that Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto was unable to attend because of the rain downpour early that morning and a commitment to speak in Massapequa. Representing the supervisor was Councilwoman Beth Faughnan, a resident of Locust Valley.

Councilwoman Faughnan said, "It's very easy in the hustle and bustle of today's world to forget about those who 232 years ago fought for our freedom: fought for government of the people by the people and for the people."

Independence Day, known as the Fourth of July, commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain, ruled by King George III.

Ms. Faughnan said, "And it's days like today that we remember that our neighbors put everything on the line for us to enjoy the freedoms that we have today - and we forget - it gets easy. It's a modern world and we forget that in other places your mothers, your sisters can't drive a car; in other countries people go to vote on Election Day and there is one name on the ballot. In other countries people are told what school they are going to go to or what profession they are going to have.

"And it's those [kinds of] people who stood up for us 232 years ago who have stood up for us every day since then. It's our friends and our neighbors. It's the veterans who are here today. It's those who are serving or are here on leave, who are still fighting for us overseas. And quite frankly it's every one of us that does the right thing every day for our neighbors.

"And I can only say on behalf of the Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto and Receiver of Taxes James Stefanich and the board: Thank you for everything you have done and will continue to do and I am going to call on each and every one of you to remember that and have a happy Fourth of July."

NYS Assemblyman Chuck Lavine called the celebration of the Fourth of July a superb and unique American event. He said that as The Star Spangled Banner was being played, Rough Rider leader Bill Uhlinger's horse whinnied. He said the sound, "almost transported me back 200 years when our essential core American values were first established." He added that, here, "We stand in patriot country." It is where the Townsend family lived on West Main Street, the home of Robert Townsend, known as Culper, Jr. when he was a member of General George Washington's spy ring. He added that here too, the Roosevelt family flourished. He said that family, and Theodore Roosevelt, contributed to what is so good about America - especially at a time when we face unique challenges by working together, as is happening now, and as we handled those challenges of the past 230 years.

Assemblyman Lavine ended saying, "It is really my honor to be here with all of you for what you are doing in remembering the Fourth of July."

Commander Butt introduced the dignitaries seated on the Derby-Hall bandstand including: William Ferris, Quentin Roosevelt Post 4, commander; Town of Oyster Bay Receiver of Taxes Jim Stefanich; Nassau County Director of Veterans Service Agency Ed Aulman; Theodore Roosevelt Association President Jim Bruns; Locust Valley Legion post member, the New York American Legion Judge Advocate Charles Mills; and Nassau County American Legion Commander Rob Robesch and Vice Admiral David Architzel, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Navy.

Between each speaker, the Oyster Bay Community Band, under the baton of Steve Walker, director, played patriotic music.

When Commander Butt introduced David Architzel, he said, "He was here before when he was the captain of the aircraft carrier USS TR, and is now Vice Admiral David Architzel, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Navy."

Vice Admiral Architzel began by acknowledging TR enactor Jim Foote saying, "The Fourth of July in Oyster Bay - it just doesn't get any better than this, Mr. President. On behalf of CNO (chief naval officer) I want to tell you your Navy is alive and well and defending our country nobly on the seas." "As it should be," answered Jim Foote in the voice of TR.

Mr. Architzel said, "To me the Fourth of July is about family, our great nation and about patriotism." He said to him, patriotism is taking care of this country. He said 100 years ago, President Theodore Roosevelt was in his vision of the future, recognized the U.S. was a maritime nation: was born one and was one. He sent the Great White Navy halfway around the world to show its strength and to indicate that the United States was a world power. Congress only gave him enough money to get halfway around the world, and TR's response was, "Let Congress bring them back." Fortunately they did, and that was the start of our maritime nation, said Mr. Architzel.

Today, he said, the Navy is composed of 320,000 sailors on active duty; 70,000 reservists; 180,000 civilians; 190,000 Marines and their 10,000 reservists.

He said the Navy and Marine Corps are actively deployed today across the globe in areas supporting Operation Enduring Freedom - Iraqi Freedom but are also involved in sea control, maritime operations and defense of sea lanes.

Mr. Architzel said that as Old Glory was flying over the marchers in Oyster Bay, Old Glory was flying over the troops - so think of them today, he said.

Jim Foote, as TR, was the next speaker. He spoke in the words of TR telling of the importance of the character of the individual citizen, saying, "There is no triumph unattainable... in this vast experiment for and by a free people."

While the band was playing, TR walked down from the bandstand to where the citizens were seated to shake their hands. Mr. Foote's performance was sponsored by the Oyster Bay Historical Society.

In the words of TR, he said, "There isn't any place in the world like Sagamore Hill and the community that surrounds Sagamore Hill. It is a nook of old-time America."

TR then invited everyone to come to his beloved Sagamore Hill to see their Fourth of July events including a performance by the Rough Riders. The First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry "Rough Riders" were sponsored by the Oyster Bay Main Street Association.

TR dismissed the Rough Riders, and Commander Bill Uhlinger said, "Three cheers for TR," which they and the crowd did. Then they marched out of the square, heading toward Sagamore Hill to the applause of the crowd.

Mr. Butt announced that the next performance by the Oyster Bay Community Band (sponsored by the Town of Oyster Bay Historical Commission) was the Sagamore Hill March. "It was written by Donald Luckenbill, longtime director of music at Oyster Bay High School and for 59 years a member of the Quentin Roosevelt Post."

Mr. Butt added, "We have young men and women serving in harm's way. Please support them while they are there and support them when they return."

He thanked John Hammond, Oyster Bay Town Historian and Bob McGeever, assistant deputy to the Oyster Bay Parks commissioner, for taking care of the details of the event. He ordered the color guards to reform to march back to the Oyster Bay Community Center, continuing the Oyster Bay tradition of having parades both come and go - for two trips a parade!