Veterans Celebrated at Malverne Village Ceremony

How will you remember 11-11-11?

Perhaps, it was the day you attended a lavish wedding or landed a great deal on a car, as wedding halls have been booked for this date years in advance and many businesses are offering special sales in honor of Nov. 11, 2011.

However, Malverne Mayor Patricia Norris McDonald hopes that years from now, when residents recall this "uniquely numbered day" they'll remember "how we honored a neighbor, family member or fellow American for their service to their country and humanity."

McDonald shared these thoughts Friday morning at the village's Veterans Day ceremony. She was joined by her fellow members of the village board, New York State Assemblyman Brian Curran, Malverne residents and veterans from the Malverne chapters of the American Legion and VFW.

She briefly summed up the history and significance of this day, and then shared some ways residents can help veterans including donating to the VFW and American Legion, offering rides to disabled vets and sitting down with war veterans to record their stories for the Library of Congress. (More details will be available on Malverne T.V.)

"On behalf of the entire village of Malverne, we are eternally grateful for what you and your families have sacrificed together to keep us free and safe," she added.

Bob Guarneri, commander of the American Legion Post 44 in Malverne, also reflected upon the importance our nation's veterans.

"These people have defended our country, freedoms all over the world. We are standing here because of them," he said. "The Wall Street and Washington D.C. protestors are able to do what they are doing as a result of our veterans who have fought and allowed them to be here."

He added, "Our Founding Fathers have gave us our freedoms and our veterans have fought ever since to defend them."Please help them when you can. We owe them so much."

Guarneri also pointed out that the men and women currently serving overseas volunteered to serve and "were willing to give up so much to protect our freedoms."

New York Assemblyman Brian Curran also spoke of the soldiers who at this very moment are fighting in "the hills of Afghanistan and the streets of Baghdad" to bring freedom to other nations and protect our own.

Curran added,"We can not wait for the day when all of our servicemen come home safe and assume their rightful place as an American veteran."

And to all veterans he said, "Today the nation you served and the people you protected are grateful."

Check out photos in the gallery above from this year's ceremony.