Greg Gaetano wants to get the word out to the public! Knights of Columbus, Msgr. Henry O’Carroll Council 444, Annual Blue Mass & Special Remembrance Mass for all First Responders and Military Service Personnel, who serve and have served in our Communities and for our Country will be held on Sunday, September 15, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Patrick’s—St. Mary’s Church, 55 Grand St. in Newburgh.

Please spread the word. Let’s try and get a good turnout so that we can honor all our Police Officers, Firefighters, EMS, Corrections and Armed Forces Personnel, Active, Retired, and all who have died while in service to our communities and our country. The Blue Mass always remembers the innocent victims who perished on September 11, 2001, and their families who still suffer.

Let’s be mindful of paying special honor to those public servants who are working in very difficult times. Recent incidents, such as the NYPD officers who are subject to assaults by those persons, who have no regard for the law or respect for our First Responders make it more important for us, to recognize our first responders and thank them for their service to the community.

God bless our heroes and God bless America.

Children in Miss Liz’s class at Tots-N-Us Nursery School were thrilled to celebrate one of our favorite states, Hawaii, with a visit from a swinging and swaying Hawaiian Hula dancer, who explained the history of the hula, a cultural dance performed with respect of the ancient ways, telling the history of the people of Hawaii.

The children were fascinated with the music and the dance, and when they were invited to learn the movements of the hula from their very patient teacher, who also pointed out the seriousness of the hula, they easily danced into the rhythm and magic of the moment.

With their handmade paper grass skirts, brightly colored floral leis and blouses, their graceful little hands were happily telling colorful stories of the magical islands, about 2,000 miles from California in the Pacific Ocean.

The boys and girls were eager to learn some interesting facts, too, and were really surprised to learn that Hawaii was created millions of years ago, from volcanoes deep on the ocean floor, and Hawaii grows larger each year, when one of the world’s largest active volcanoes, Mauna Loa, erupts and the lava cools and hardens in the ocean, making the island bigger. Popular islands are Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and Hawaii (the Big Island). The capital is Honolulu and is home to our great naval base, Pearl Harbor.

Hawaiians greet their thousands of visitors with garlands of flowers called leis, and the friendly cry, “Aloha!” Do you know what the Hawaiian word, “Aloha,” means? It means “hello” or “welcome,” “good-bye,” “love,” and “friendship.”

People from many parts of the world live together on these beautiful islands in peace and friendship and isn’t that what we all pray for, a dream come true?

Life-long love is a testimony to lasting love and true devotion in the midst of this topsy-turvy world, where storm clouds come out of the blue, but by the grace of God, He will hang a glorious rainbow in the sky or dangle the glowing moon in a starry night, to remind us He loves us and is always with us.

Three faith-filled couples come to mind: Curt and Patricia Moran, who celebrated 54 years of marriage on August 7; Stephen and Elizabeth Donato, who celebrated 53 years of marriage on August 7: Anthony and Susan Marino, who will be celebrating 53 years of marriage on August 21.

May God’s love be present to you in a special way through the graces of your marriage sacrament. Congratulations and best wishes!