This past weekend, I visited the Hallockville Country Fair, a yearly highlight on Long Island that unites families and friends for two days filled with laughter, learning, and cherished memories. I must say, his air was much more than just a event; it honored local culture, history and the simple joys of rural life. With museum tours and interactive activities for children, if offered something for everyone, making it an event I was delighted to attend.

Recently, while visiting friends in Long Island, NY, I had the privilege of attending an event hosted by the American Legion Southold Post 803 aimed at raising awareness about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and BEtheONE Veterans Program. The guest speaker, FDNY Lt. Joe Torrillo, shared his compelling, Buried in the Rubble, survival story. As a first responder, he endured the horror of being buried alive, not once but twice, in the rubble of the Twin Towers.