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by Christine Nelson

With flags flying from every light and telephone pole in Oyster Bay and from most of the homes and many of the cars, on the morning of Saturday, September 22nd, the hamlet was devoted to doing something for the victims of the Sept. 11th World Trade Center tragedy.

	Old Glory

Renowned historical artist, Mort Künstler of Cove Neck was at the Oyster Bay Post Office autographing prints of his painting, Old Glory, with long waiting lines of residents interested in making a $25 donation to the American Red Cross' Disaster Relief Fund. In most cases, their faces were grim. As they waited to make the donation and receive a hand-signed print, the conversation was focused on the World Trade Center tragedy and the horror that had been visited upon the United States, Tuesday, September 11th.

"Our publisher came up with this idea and it makes us all feel good," Künstler said. "I know that I feel good about signing them. The beauty of it is that all the money goes to the Red Cross. We have 6,000 prints and if we sell them all, we will have raised $150,000 - then we will continue in other Post Offices. Perhaps it will make us all feel a little better. . . at least we are doing something."

Künstler signing prints of Old Glory, assisted by his daughter, Jane (left) and Paula McEvoy.

Künstler continued: "I did not personally know anyone at the Trade Center, but everyone knows someone who did and you feel as if you knew them, too. Firemen and the policemen who went into the building hoping to save someone and then perished, are the true heroes of the day. I saw the building collapse, I knew what was going on right at that moment. And the stairwells. . ." he hesitated. "We all want to do something."

Oyster Bay Postmaster John Bratta said, "I think it's a wonderful thing and a great opportunity for the United States Postal Service to cooperate with Mort regarding this devestating tragedy. . to see the people come in here and support the American Red Cross. It's a wonderful thing.

Künstler signed print after print. On Saturday, alone, he sigend 1,500 and was at the post office for a longer period of time than was originally anticipated.

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