What is National Night Out? Held on the first Tuesday of August, it's a chance for police and other first responders to let us know they are one of us. It's a chance for us to let them know we're one of them. It's an opportunity for a community, young and old, rich and poor, to get to know each other.

Freemansburg has never participated in this event, but thanks to Police Chief Todd Pantuso and a host of borough volunteers and generous sponsors, this is certain to become an annual tradition. At least 400 people were treated to free hot dogs and burgers served up by Mayor Gerald Yob and Council member George Wilson, as well as pastelillos from Miriam Castellano of Miriam's Take Out. But it was more than the food that attracted people. A tiny borough was telling its residents they matter. And before long, everyone was smiling.

The evening started out with a memorial service for Robert Lasso, a Freemansburg police officer killed in the line of duty two years ago, responding to what should have been a minor neighborhood squabble.

"I remember that night very well," said District Attorney John Morganelli, who paid tribute to the fallen but not forgotten officer. He said we tend to take for granted the work that police officers do, but "their lives are always on the line. They never know if they're going to come home." Calling Lasso's widow and his two young children "salt of the earth," Morganelli said Lasso, "will be remembered; will be in our hearts and thoughts." When he finished his tribute, Jim McAteer of the Somerset County Police Pipes and Drums played "Amazing Grace."

After this somber reminder of the ultimate sacrifice first responders make, the fun began.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to dunk an elected official? Borough council member Jim Smith was giving everyone a chance to take him down. Mayor Yob tried, but was unable to hit the target. But he had a ringer. Benjamin Casellas, after getting some advice from his dad, took the councilman down in three pitches.

Smith, who graduated with Morganelli from Liberty HS, was a track star. "We used to call him 'Lightning'," said the DA. He was more like thunder as he would crash into the dunk tank time and again until, waterlogged, he called it a day.

In addition to food and drinks, there was also a raffle. Every person who came got a ticket, and 16 prizes were awarded that included gift certificates to Ocean, Apollo Grill, Sicily Pizza and other local merchants.

Of course, police cars and fire trucks were on display. Every police officer and many volunteer firefighters volunteered participate.

But the star of the night was a Belgian girl named Alexandria (Alex). She's a 6-year-old Belgian Malinois raised by K-9 specialist Don Wilcox. Though a two-word command will prompt her to launch into an attack, Wilcox uses her for search and rescue missions. She's participated in 100 cases over the past five years, including water rescues and collapsed building searches.

Despite the fearsome reputation of her breed, Wilcox called her a "lover." She basked in the attention as child after child petted her, and wanted to play with a Shih Tzu named Butchy, about one-tenth her size. but when it was time to work, she worked. Her mission was to find a "lost" child, coincidentally also named Alex, who was hiding in the bed of a pick up truck several hundred yards away.

Through a process known as air scent searching, in which her sensitive nose can pick up the 40,000 skin rafts that humans shed every minute, she was able to find the girl in about a minute. She barked her discovery, and then returned to Wilcox and led him to the girl.

The idea for this National Night Out originated with Chief Pantuso, who was involved in the program as an officer in New Jersey since 1997. He expressed his deep appreciation for the numerous sponsors who participated in making the 1st Annual Freemanburg National Night Out a night to remember for those who came. Next year, there will certainly be more.