Red White and Beautiful

It's the best country in the world and Massapequa Park brought out their best for the annual Fourth of July parade.

"The parade is a reminder of the freedom we enjoy," said Shari DiPierri, who staked out a shady spot on Lake Shore Drive to enjoy the proceedings. "We're all free no matter who we are, no matter where we are."

"It means a lot to me because I love being patriotic," said 10-year-old Andy Prim, who marched with the Massapequa International Little League. "It's a very good time of year."

Primm's father Artie, a coach in the league, called it "an honor" to march in the parade. "There's a lot of pride. Pride for our country."

Despite wearing a protective boot, Alison Scanzano came out to support Massapequa Park's  Adopt a Battalion program, a non profit organization that collects and sends needed items to our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.

She said her work for the charity has made the holiday more meaningful to her.

"Because of  Adopt a Battalion, I think about the people who are overseas and what they're going through," she said. "We're here to support them."

Scanzano said she couldn't march because she had broken her ankle, but she rode  the parade route in a car.

Another person who earned a well deserved ride, was World War II veteran Joe Bonder.

"We've had four days of great weather and today we get a scorcher," he said.  "But I have an air conditioned car. I've led a charmed life," Bonder said, noting that he survived a torpedo attack during the war.

Bonder joined a group of ex-servicemen who marched by a home decorated with dozens of flags, big and small.

The display was put up by 73-year-old Fred Dorrer.

"I do it for the veterans. Several of them are friends of mine," he said.

"My daughter, my wife and I get together and do this every Fourth of July it takes a couple of hours but you can see how much they appreciate it."

Many of the veterans  saluted the flag display as they marched by and several thanked Dorrer.

"That means more to me than anything," Dorrer said. "Those old guys fought for us."