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<\/p>\nWhen the airplane buzzed over Pierce Country Day Camp in Roslyn\u00a0Wednesday\u00a0morning, hundreds of campers turned their eyes to the sky to see it towing a surprise message: \u201cHappy 100th Birthday Pierce Day Camp!\u201d<\/p>\n
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The plane was part of the family-owned camp\u2019s celebration of its 100th summer \u2014 other activities included camp directors riding on a golf cart while shooting confetti; unearthing a time capsule buried 20 summers ago and replanting it with new items to be opened 25 summers from now; presenting an enormous 100th birthday cake; and singing tunes celebrating the camp and its milestone.<\/p>\n
Inside the capsule, among other items, was an enormous banner that had been signed with messages from campers at Pierce 20 summers ago. Marie Pierce, 63, one of the camp directors, said she couldn\u2019t believe the moment had finally come to open the capsule and mark the occasion.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/piercecamps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_8234-e1499978176551-225x300.jpg\")
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\u201cIt just seemed so far away and such a milestone. Here we are today. We\u2019re passing the baton on to the fourth generation,\u201d she said, referring to her daughter Courtney and nephew Will taking over the running of the camp that was founded by their great-grandfather, Forrester \u201cPop\u201d Pierce, in 1918. The next time a capsule is opened at Pierce, Marie Piercewill be 88 and a fifth generation of Pierces may be running things. \u201cI can\u2019t believe that in 25 years my grandchildren will be in their 30s,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Festive banners surrounded the field\u00a0Wednesday, made by the camp\u2019s various age groups and held by their counselors. \u201cEach group went to arts and crafts and we designed our own banner,\u201d said Alex Prince, 19, of Howard Beach, who has been spending summers at Pierce since he was 3 years old and is currently a counselor for a group of 6-year-old boys. \u201cPierce is Having a Treemendous Birthday,\u201d read the group\u2019s banner, with the handprints of the 20-plus boys in the group. Treemendous is a play on the camp\u2019s massive treehouse. Another group\u2019s banner said, \u201cMay the Pierce be with you.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The time capsule and the airplane were the biggest hits for campers Alivia Saunders, 9, of Port Washington, and Victoria Zargari, 9, of Great Neck.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was unexpected,\u201d Alivia said of the plane.<\/p>\n
Victoria agreed. \u201cWe thought it was just a plane, but then we saw the banner. It had the Pierce logo,\u201d she said. \u201cIt blew my eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was really, really fun,\u201d Alivia said. \u201cAll my friends were here, and we had confetti and a cake.<\/p>\n