Presidential Debate on Foreign Policy Reminds Us That All Politics is Local

They say that all of politics is local. No matter how big of an issue, it somehow affects those who live in communities like ours. The final debate scheduled for Monday night at 9 p.m. between President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney will focus on foreign policy.

The biggest foreign policy issue for the last three presidential terms has to be terrorism and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As the candidates debate foreign policy, Patch looks back at some of the stories we covered on the local effects on the community of America's ongoing wars.

Veteran Omar Domenech Honored With New Home in Sound Beach

Staff Sergeant Omar Domenech earned the Purple Heart after suffering wounds by a mortar round. He served three deployments in the Middle East - two in Iraq, and one in Kuwait, and for his service was honored with a new home in Sound Beach thanks to the efforts of Long Island Home Builders Care Development Corp.

Memorial Dedicated to Seven Fallen Sound Beach Veterans

 It took years of work from volunteers with the Sound Beach Civic Association, community members and local dignitaries, but the Sound Beach Veterans Memorial Park was finally completed and dedicated just in time for Memorial Day 2012. The memorial honors the seven Sound Beach veterans who lost their lives defending the country.

Rocky Point Welcomes Home a Soldier

The Mount Sinai and Terryville Fire Departments helped welcome home Sgt. Brandon La Vista of Rocky Point Wednesday afternoon in a procession down 25A that funneled traffic down Echo Avenue in Mount Sinai.

Lance Corporal Nelson Acevedo Returns Home

U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Nelson Acevedo was welcomed home from a stint in Afghanistan on Saturday afternoon by members of the local fire departments.

Lance Cpl. Acevedo, a 22-year-old Miller Place resident, was a member of the 2/9 2nd Marine Division and received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation with Combat Medal for saving the life of a fellow Marine in his division.

Tennessee Shooting Victim a Rocky Point Grad and Soldier at Fort Campbell

Taylor Hotzoglou, a shooting victim found dead on the side of the road near his Tennessee home, was a 2007 graduate of Rocky Point High School and soldier stationed at Fort Campbell in Tenn.

VIDEO: A Monument to Never Forget in Shoreham

The Rocky Point Fire Department 9/11 Memorial Park in Shoreham was dedicated Sunday to those community members who lost their lives in the attacks. Rocky Point graduates Sgt. Michael Curtin, Joanne Ahladiotis and Lisa and Samantha Egan, and Shoreham-Wading River grad Kevin Williams will forever be remembered at the memorial park in Shoreham.

Rocky Point VFW 9/11 Memorial Unveiled

A ceremony was held at Diamond in the Pines Park in Coram Sunday to unveil the Rocky Point VFW 9/11 Memorial. Joe Cognitore, Commander of the Rocky Point VFW, and Rich Acritelli, organized the memorial with the help of multiple organizations, officials and community members.

Lunch Bags of Love for Soldiers

Rocky Point students in Stacy Iberger’s second-grade class at Frank J. Carasiti Elementary School filled and decorate packages, or Lunch Bags of Love, for soldiers with the help of both parents and local veterans from VFW Post 6249.

This is the sixth year that students have done this. The packages usually go to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan,  butthis year they were sent to soldiers at Fort Polk in Louisiana where soldier Michael Vivona, father of second-grader Alexandra, is stationed.

Scout Honors Veterans at Ceremony in Mt. Sinai

The wind at Heritage Park may have chilled onlookers to the bone this Veterans Day but it was "good for the flags" as someone noted during a ceremony honoring veterans of every branch of the armed service organized by Patrick Holomshek, a member of Life Scout Troop 382.