GREAT LOSSES – Political leader Tom Manton and Flushing marine killed in Iraq are laid to rest.

More than 500 people including friends, family members, colleagues, and even a former president of the United States filled St. Sebastian's Church in Woodside to honor and remember influential Queens Democratic party chairperson Thomas Manton at his funeral on Friday, July 28.
Manton, who was 73, died on Saturday, July 22, after a long battle with prostate cancer.
During the funeral, former President Bill Clinton, who visited Queens and met with Manton in 1991 before being elected president, spoke about the kindness Manton showed him during their meeting. In addition, Clinton spoke about Manton's reputation and clout as a powerbroker in the political world.
&#8220He played the game we love better than anybody else because he was better at the game,” Clinton said.
Manton spent the past 20 years running the powerful Queens Democratic party organization, helping broker deals to get the last two Council speakers, Gifford Miller and Christine Quinn, elected in exchange for high-power chair positions for Queens members.
Quinn, Miller, Senators Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer as well as current and former councilmembers and congressmembers all paid tribute to Manton at the funeral on Friday.
Manton also served seven terms as Congressman until he retired in 1997 after handpicking his successor Congressmember Joseph Crowley, who is widely considered the front-runner to succeed Manton as chair of the organization as well.
Although Crowley declined to comment on the possibility of taking over for his mentor, other Queens democratic members were not as hesitant.
&#8220Congressman Crowley is the natural choice to lead the democratic organization into the coming years,” said City Councilmember John Liu. &#8220His leadership and his work ethic make him the natural choice.”
Michael Reich, Executive Secretary for the Queens Democratic party echoed Liu's statements.
&#8220It seems as if a very strong consensus is forming around Joe Crowley, which I think is what Tom Manton wanted,” said Reich, who worked with Manton for 20 years.
Under the bylaws of the organization, First Vice-Chair, Dora Young, who currently serves as the Deputy City Clerk for Queens County, will take over as chair.
The group has not met to decide whether to call for a special election before the September primaries where the 72 district leaders would elect a new chair, according to Reich.
However, Liu did not see the need for a special election to take place.
&#8220It's because of our unity in Queens that there just doesn't need to be a special election,” Liu said. &#8220Everything will be smooth until September until our new leader will be formerly elected.”
If there is no special election, Young will have all of the power and authority that the chairperson position holds until a meeting after the primaries to determine the next chair.
&#8220I am very confident that it will be a unanimous selection,” Liu said.

Marine Laid to Rest
Standing shoulder to shoulder for support and strength, the family of Marine Cpl. Julian Ramon, 22, laid to rest a son, a brother - a compatriot - on Saturday, July 29.
An Honor Guard carried the flag-draped coffin into St. Michael's Church in Flushing as the Patriot Guard, veterans bearing the Colors and riding motorcycles, lined up outside.
&#8220He was a good son, a good cousin, a good nephew, a good grandson,” said cousin Maria Camilla Mutis. &#8220He was great with all his family members.”
The somber service, conducted entirely in Spanish, brought tears to the eyes of even the most stoic in attendance as the pain and anguish of burying a son far too soon was tangible in the light-filled church.
&#8220Death is not the end of his journey,” said the priest who officiated the Mass.
Ramon, originally from Colombia, was killed on Thursday, July 20 in an explosion in Iraq's Al Anbar Province.
He came to the United States with his family at the age of four, graduated from John Bowne High School, and hoped to study criminal justice after the completion of his second tour of duty in Iraq, which was set to end in just two months.
&#8220It's traumatizing,” said Joe Cushman, a Vietnam veteran riding for the first time with the Patriot Guard. &#8220It's like you don’t want to see this, but you feel a sense of duty and patriotism. That’s why I'm here.”
Ramon was buried in Long Island National Cemetery immediately following the service.