Early Summer 2008

On Nantucket in July, the weather is glorious, the beaches sparkle and the ocean is teeming with bluefish and bass. There is simply no better place to get away and celebrate the Independence Day holiday. But it is during this most American of holidays that we must not forget  that others are fighting a difficult war overseas. Our incursion into Afghanistan and Iraq is almost as old as this very magazine, but over the past five years, the war has slipped into the background of our collective consciousness.

The reality of the War on Terror has come home to me through my 23-year-old first cousin who is serving with the Marines. In the past month, he has witnessed the death of his best friend and the severe injury of another. If not for a flak jacket, he too would have been lost. Yet he and his company remain deeply committed to their mission and would not likely trade places with us even if they had the choice.

To me, this is what the Fourth of July is about. While the majority of us are living in peace and comfort, others are willing to put their lives at risk to protect our way of life here at home. While the wisdom of the war can be debated, the resolve of our soldiers cannot, and they deserve our unconditional support and gratitude.

In this issue of N Magazine, editor Bill Ferrall interviews Olympic skating legend Dorothy Hamill, one of Nantucket’s newest summer residents. She shared with Bill the ups and downs of her post-Olympic life.

While Nantucket has gained an American sports icon, it has also unexpectedly lost one of its most visible and beloved media figures. Tim Russert, host of NBC’s Meet the Press, was again scheduled to be a lecturer for Nantucket Atheneum’s Geschke Lecture series as well as the guest-host again for this summer’s annual Boston Pops concert for Nantucket Cottage Hospital and for Nantucket Boys and Girls Club annual Summer Groove.
Tim’s warm smile and friendly demeanor will be deeply missed.

Thomas Jefferson once said that had he the choice between government without newspapers or newspapers without government, he would choose the latter. Although Tim was a broadcast journalist, he provided the type of check on our government and political process that Jefferson viewed as so critical, and his loss affects us all.

There is however much to celebrate and be thankful for this Fourth of July, and we hope you all enjoy what Nantucket has to offer.

Bruce Percelay

Late Spring 2008