We truly had a wonderful time on Sunday, July 13, covering the unveiling of the Paul Manship statue of Theodore Roosevelt at the restored Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola. We had spoken to Bill Shierberl, Esq. several times a few years ago when he was involved with trying to bring the statue to Oyster Bay.

We were delighted to be there to see all his efforts come to a wonderful conclusion. The statue seems very much at home where it is now. The entire Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building is something Nassau County residents can be proud of.

County Executive Tom Suozzi did us all a great service in bringing back that wonderful building to life. He set a wonderful example for Nassau County - to preserve and appreciate our architectural heritage.

It was also inspiring to see the seat of Nassau County government, as well as to see how integral TR is here on Long Island. There are two display cases with Theodore Roosevelt sesquicentennial memorabilia on display as well as the mural of his laying the cornerstone of the building.

It was a "Bully, bully" afternoon.

It was also delightful to see an original Teddy Bear on display. Having seen one in the window of a local store - owned by Paula Genovese - several years ago - I could tell his provenance by his long arms, as well as the lovely face of the small bear saved by TR while on a hunting trip.

TR is a ubiquitous figure. There is also an exhibit in the Smithsonian Museum of gold coins by sculptor Saint Gauden that the President commissioned. They are considered to be one of the most beautiful coins ever minted and are out of circulation.

Wherever one goes, there is TR again. Just as his daughter Alice Roosevelt Longworth once described her father as an individual who wanted to be "the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral."

And now he is at one more location, spreading the Roosevelt charm to the American public. - DFK