Full Text:

Remembering Pearl Harbor Over New York City Harbor

(with cut)

BY DOROTHY EVANS

Honoring the memory of men and women killed at Pearl Harbor 56 years ago, two

local war veterans took part in a special 12-plane air squadron flight on

Sunday.

Marty Maciag of Newtown and Al Denslow, formerly of Newtown and an employee of

Newtown Hardware, were members of the veterans' special squadron that flew

over the Statue of Liberty and the World War II aircraft carrier, USS Intrepid

, on Sunday, December 7, at 12:55 pm.

According to Mr Denslow, who was a passenger in a small plane piloted by his

friend, Mr Maciag, the private and military air trainers not only flew in

formation, they made a "touch and go" landing at JFK Airport, then circled the

Statue of Liberty and dropped dozens of roses at its base. They then dipped

their wings in salute over the aircraft carrier "to complete the ceremony."

Finally, "we headed up the Hudson River toward home," Mr Denslow said Monday.

The squadron left from Oxford late Sunday morning and proceeded to JFK

airport, "halting all departures and arrivals, including the Concorde , during

the time that they circled the harbor," Mr Denslow said.

"We had to do it very precisely, the lead plane was in constant contact with

Kennedy Airport, so we wouldn't delay the commercial planes too long," he

added.

Luckily, the weather cooperated, though they "almost ran into a snow squall."

"We were a team of six civilians and six military trainers, with private

planes and two World War II biplanes," Mr Denslow said.

Now a resident of Watertown, Mr Denslow had lived in Newtown for 35 years, he

said. When Mr Maciag asked him on Saturday night to go along for the special

flight, he jumped at the chance.

"He even asked me to fly, but I said `No thank you!' It was one of the

proudest things I've ever done as a veteran," Mr Denslow concluded, adding, "I

wish the schools had taken more notice of the anniversary of Pearl Harbor."

"It seems like it's not as important to them as it used to be, which is a real

shame."