By Betsy Scheinbart
Nearly a thousand southeast Queens residents are expected to attend two Memorial Day parades in southeast Queens Monday — one in Laurelton and the other in Rosedale.
Veterans of World War II, the Vietnam War, the Korean War and the Gulf War will be honored at the parades as will veterans of service in Somalia, Haiti, and Grenada. Americans who fought in the Civil War, World War I and other conflicts will be remembered.
About 100 World War II veterans, as well as veterans of foreign wars and 25 politicians are expected at the Laurelton Memorial Day Parade, scheduled to start at 9 a.m. at Francis Lewis and Merrick boulevards.
Nine area schools will participate in the parade by singing and playing in bands, said Commander T.J. Tharpe of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5298, one of the sponsors of the Laurelton Memorial Day Parade. Tharpe is a Vietnam veteran.
“The parade signifies a sense of unity and pride in veterans in the neighborhood,” Tharpe said.
The parade will last about 30 minutes and conclude at the Veterans Memorial Triangle at 225th Street and North Conduit Ave.
A memorial ceremony will be held at the triangle at about 10:30 a.m., as well as a tree-planting ceremony to honor veterans of World War II, Tharpe said.
In addition to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the parade’s sponsors include The Laurelton Lions Club, The Garden Club of Laurelton, The Federated Blocks of Laurelton, and Benjamin Moore American Legion Post 1946.
The Rosedale Memorial Day Parade is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. and start at 243rd Street and Memphis Avenue. Boys Scouts Troupe 162 will provide a marching band.
Joseph Albergo, a Korean War veteran and chairman of the parade committee, expects about 200 to 300 attendees at the event, which draws fewer and fewer veterans each year.
“Veterans are starting to disappear,” Albergo said. “That’s why you have to keep doing the parade.”
The parade was organized by three posts: the American Legion, Jewish War Veterans of the U.S. and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
“It’s a dying breed,” he said of American veterans, who are dying by the thousands each day, making it even more important for young people to learn about their battles now.
He believes students are not getting enough information about the world wars and foreign wars in school.
The parade is an opportunity “to make young people understand that we did go to war and that’s why we are where we are today,” Albergo said.
The parade route continues southeast from 243rd Street to 246th Street and Francis Lewis Boulevard, where participants will salute the Veteran of Foreign Wars Monument.
It will conclude at Veterans Square at Sunrise Highway, where memorial services will begin.
Then, at about 12 p.m., a ceremony will be held at the American Legion building at 135th Avenue and Brookville Boulevard. Hot dogs and ice cream will be served.
Reach reporter Betsy Scheinbart by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300 Ext. 138.
