United States Astronaut Michael Massimino proved you can go home again. Massimino, who grew up in Franklin Square, graduated from the John Street Elementary School and H. Frank Carey High School, returned to his hometown and was honored with a gala parade, which drew residents, students and organizations from the Franklin Square community.

The astronaut, dressed in a blue uniform, returned home after his first space mission in which he was a part of the crew aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia that serviced the Hubble Space Telescope. The mission, the STS-109, which launched on March 1, lasted 10 days, 22 hours and 10 minutes.

Massimino, however, spent a lot more days in the community of Franklin Square. "He's a guy who took his first steps at the John Street School and his first steps in space with finesse," said Nassau County Legislator John Ciotti, who attended the parade.

Massimino's return home provided the community an opportunity to show its pride. With fire trucks blaring, the Carey Marching Band in place and the John Street School students singing their school song, the community celebrated one of its own living his dream.

For the many children who attended the parade, there wasn't just the opportunity to collect an autograph or take photos, but to see someone who was one day just like them literally reach the stars. "At the John Street School, we teach students to dream and he is living proof," said school principal Ceil Candreva.

Perhaps the Franklin Square community was deserving of an occasion to celebrate. The community was hit hard by the terrorist attacks of Sept 11, losing some of its citizens such as Franklin Square/Munson Fire Department Captain Thomas Hetzel.

For Massimino, coming home gave him the opportunity to see old faces and familiar ground. The 1980 Carey High School graduate was chosen as an astronaut candidate in 1996 and has been living in Texas. But he hasn't forgotten his roots. Among the items he took with him into space was a John Street School T-shirt, signed by all the students, an H. Frank Carey High School banner and flags, pins and posters honoring the New York City police officers and firefighters who were killed on Sept. 11.

The demands on the astronaut may have been great during training for the recent mission. It was good for him to get away, not just into space, but back home where everyone knows his name.