This year Veterans Day fell on 11/11/11. And at the 11^th hour Friday morning, chimes sounded at the Sousa Bandshell in Port Washington, where veterans and family members gathered by the water on a blustery morning for a Veterans Day observance.

Larry Tuck, treasurer of the American Legion Post 509, led the observance and introduced each speaker, starting with an invocation from Rev. Eldon Simpson from the United Methodist Church.

“We gather on this Veterans Day to honor and give thanks for all of those who have served in the lines of war,” Rev. Simpson said. “We especially recall those who gave their last full measure of devotion and service for this nation. May they forever be a blessed memory.”

Next, Jerry Devine of the American Legion Post 509 led the Pledge of Allegiance while the veterans saluted the swaying flag. Then Job Pickow sang the Star Spangled Banner.

Art Wade, adjutant of the American Legion Post 509 gave his Veterans Day Address. “What would this country do without veterans?" Wade asked. “Well, we wouldn’t be the United States of America. We could have saved a lot of American lives by not participating in the Revolutionary War. We could have really saved over 600,000 lives by not fighting the Civil War and slavery would have survived.

“By not participating in World War I and remaining neutral, we could have saved 117,000 lives and a lot of dollars. Staying out of World War II, 406,000 lives would be saved. However, we wouldn’t be speaking English today…all could have been avoided, and we would not have any veterans here today, but because of our veterans we stand here today speaking the English language with the guarantees provided in our Constitution of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

John Chalker, commander at the VFW Post 1819, followed with the reading of a Joyce Kilmer poem, Korean War veteran Vince Borkowski played "Taps," Rev. Simpson returned with his benediction, and Pickow ended the ceremony with the singing of "God Bless America."

“There are about 23 million veterans in the United States including about 1,200,000 women who deserve our support,” Wade said. “Fortunately for us, America had been blessed throughout its history by many such men and women. On this Veterans Day, I ask our politicians and society to rise and give real meaning to the phrase, ‘Support our troops.’”