Greetings dear Front Porch friends and a very special salute to all our veterans! How proud and grateful we are! We can say God bless America with confidence thanks to you!

As the heartwarming election day stories continue to pour in, I invite you, dear Front Porch readers, to consider sending along your stories to share here on the Front Porch. I imagine, as we collectively continue to process the amazing and life changing events of last week, and all that happened — in our families, in our towns, in the country and around the world — we’ll all have beautiful tales. For instance, here’s one that provided a wonderful chuckle on the big day itself. My sister Ginger who lives in Virginia, was working at the polls in her neighborhood of Fairfax Station when in walked a fellow wearing a Block Island sweatshirt. The shirt quickly became the topic of conversation and inspired another woman, also volunteering for the Presidentelect to mention that her parents live in Westerly. It didn’t take long for the dots to get connected and for both to realize that the woman was Gibby Murphy, daughter of Austin and Pat Murphy, the much loved Shelter Harbor residents and Chorus of Westerly/ St. Clare Church mainstays. What a hoot! In this day of instant messaging, by the time Austin arrived at The Sun for our special Veteran’s Day interview, he had heard the entire story, as of course, had I! Ginger and Gibby and their husbands enjoyed a wonderful celebration that night and were tickled to have so much in common!

And how about this one? Imagine how surprised — and delighted — newly-elected Westerly Town Councilor Jack Felber was to have daughter Jaffa arrive home from Nicaragua to work the polls for him and to be at the Dems HQ for his victory! Mum Marcia and sister Georgia — who help papa Jack keep things together at Watch Hill’s famed Olympia — had been mum about Jaffa’s visit so it was a triple surprise for Jack who says he’s looking forward to his new role on the council. Bravo to all our newly elected officials! And how about that school bond passing? Yahoo and bravo to Mr. Bonner and his students for their role in creating that video! Sundance here we come.

And then there’s the story from neighbors Marvin and Naomi Lewiton of Arlington, Mass., and Weekapaug who were able to enjoy Tuesday’s thrilling Obama Grant Park event vicariously via daughter Ariel, who was in the crowd and sent photos from the midst of the emotional celebration. The Lewitons had been following the campaign closely via daughter Rachel, a Quinnipiac student who has been working for the university’s famous poll. The Lewitons were still euphoric on Saturday, so happy and so proud.

And then there’s our own David Smith, editor of the Sun’s family of weeklies, who, while vacationing in Florida with his beautiful wife Terry last week, learned by chance that Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy was about to speak at a “Vote for Change” gathering at the Vineyards Community Center in Naples. They dashed over to hear her speak and stood so close they could have touched her. Kennedy, of course, had endorsed Sen. Obama last winter, saying “I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that man — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.” Some are saying that the New York attorney, writer and mother of three, Rose, Tatiana and John, is a top candidate for the next ambassador to the UN! Look for Dave and Terry’s photos in an upcoming edition of Front Porch News.

Several weeks ago I mentioned that I’d had a sweet note from former Westerly resident Grace Ouimet, wife of Al Ouimet, who shared the news that youngest son, Sean, a 2000 graduate of the Prout School, a 2004 United States Naval Academy grad, graduated from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey with a masters on physics, and as a Naval Flight Officer in Jacksonville, was married in May to Kathryn Clark of Simsbury, Conn., at the Naval Academy. The newlyweds no sooner returned from their Honolulu honeymoon when Sean’s squadron was deployed to Iraq. Says mom, “Our prayers are with all the young men serving our country.” Indeed they are! And young women too!

So delighted to hear that Jean Murano and her pal Terry Federico have decided to keep a longtime Watch Hill tradition going — the pair have purchased J.C.’s famous bathing suit shop. Isn’t that fun news! And what fun also to hear from Scott and Cynthia Gardner that daughter Danica, a 1999 WHS grad now living in NYC had her wedding photo in the Sun Bridal supplement recently.

Enjoy the week, do good work, keep that good news coming, and ciao bella!