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CNN Live Today

Annual Memorial Day Parade in Manhasset, New York

Aired May 27, 2002 - 10:45   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: This Memorial Day of course has special significance for people living in Manhasset, New York, out of Long Island's north shore. Fifty of its residents lost their lives in the September 11th attacks.

Jason Carroll is in Manhasset talking with residents who've gathered for their annual Memorial Day parade -- Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN ANCHOR: If you take a look right behind me, you can see that the annual Memorial Day parade is just getting under way here. We're standing out here on what would be considered the main street out here in Manhasset, Long Island, Manhasset and community of some 18, 000 people, very small town, located just about a half hour outside of New York City,depending upon the traffic.

During this Memorial Day parade, they have the local high school band out here. You can see some of the fire trucks making their way up the street here as well. You had members of the brownies. You had lots of the kids who belonged to a lot of local sports teams out here, all coming out to pay their respects to the veterans, also paying respect to those who lost their lives during 9/11.

As you mentioned, this city particularly is hard hit, during 9/11. Some 50 people who called Manhasset their home killed during 9/11. But today, we're out talk to some of the veterans.

Joining me right now is one of them. This is Henry Pecora. He is a veteran of World War II, if you can believe it, and I want to show you something. Henry brought this up. Before we started talking to Henry, can I show them this. This is his identification card. Take a look at this, when Henry was in the U.S. Coast Guard, this picture taken back in 1941, you said September? September of 1941.

Henry, give us some of your thoughts today about Memorial Day.

LT. HENRY PECORA, RET. U.S. ARMY: Well, I'm very happy to be here, and I would like -- I'm very happy with the support that the people are giving in Manhasset. It's very community-minded, and I would hope and pray that it would be more patriotism in the school and in the colleges. It's a nice day, And I'm happy to be able to be here, and I'm alive.

CARROLL: I know you marched in the parade today. Also, people here in Manhasset also giving respects to those who lost their lives in 9/11. Can you tell us about how this community was affected.

PECORA: Yes, the community lost quite a few lives. People traveled in from Manhasset into New York, and they raised a lot of money for the families of the victims, which I thought was very nice, and support the effort as much as possible. It's a very community- minded town, this Manhasset, and the people are behind most of the activities that started.

CARROLL: I noticed that. It seems like this -- earlier today, we were at the local restaurant called Louie's, and everybody said it was sort of a place where everyone knows your name, like "Cheers," and I get that impression here in this community, everyone sort of knows each other.

PECORA: That's right. Louie's has been here I would say least 40 years. I remembered him when I first moved to Manhasset, and it is a place where everybody meets, and everybody usually has coffee in the morning at Louie's, very nice man, very nice place to visit.

CARROLL: Henry, we want to thank you again. I'm going to give this back to you.

Thank you for sharing this identification card with us. I really want to thank you. Thanks very, very much, Henry.

CARROLL: Once again, this is kind of place where, you look at what's happening here, and you can imagine that this is happening probably at thousands of places all over the country, small parades like this, but in this community, once again, it's not just about paying respects to those who lost their lives in whatever war it may be, whether it be the Vietnam War, World War II, but it's also in this community about paying respect to those who lost lives during 9-11.

Back to you.

OSBORN: Jason Carroll, live on Long Island.

Thank you so much for brining us that report, showing the parade, and of course for the words from that World War II veteran.

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