By Scott Sieber
Marchers gathered at the intersection of Francis Lewis Boulevard and Merrick Boulevard to kick off the 16th annual parade, which proceeded to Veterans Memorial Triangle at North Conduit Avenue for a ceremonial wreath laying.Local Tiger Scout Troop leader Louise Aguilera said she had been marching the same route for 15 Memorial Day parades and the importance never diminished. Every year she takes her Tiger Scouts to participate in the procession.”This is really important for the kids,” she said. “They need to understand about the people who gave their lives for us and have a notion of what it is all about.” A tear ran down her cheek as she spoke in front of her Tiger Scout troops, who proudly stood behind their leader holding aloft their towering American flags.”I do this because one of my friends was killed in Vietnam,” she said. “And now I have a nephew in Iraq, so it's important to remember.”Mayor Michael Bloomberg showed up with Borough President Helen Marshall during the march, an appearance that had residents, and even fellow parade marchers, puff out their chests in pride for their parade.”That's pretty prestigious,” said assistant Boy Scout Master of Troop Benicio McKenzie. “Now I'm going to march with pride and a little more pep in my step. It's a beautiful thing, baby!”Bloomberg often broke the procession to shake hands with the many star-struck spectators and residents like Raymond Gatling, a disabled veteran watching the parade from his front porch on 225th Street.Of the brief meeting with the mayor on his own property, Gatling said, “this parade is getting better every year.” At the Veterans Memorial Triangle ceremony, Bloomberg addressed the excited crowd before the wreath-laying ceremony performed by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5298.”Thirty-two New Yorkers have died serving this country in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Bloomberg. “What we have to do is remember that this is a wonderful day, a chance for kids to have a smile on their face, but it's also a very serious day. “For 235 years, Americans have been giving their lives so we can have the freedoms we have, and it's up to us to continue. We fight the battles and remember those overseas fighting for us,” he said.Bloomberg issued a proclamation to the VFW, naming Memorial Day as Laurelton Memorial Parade Day.
