We applaud the efforts and diligence of a Queens civic group, the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park World’s Fair Association, in its quest to have an historic document returned to the borough where it was born - permanently and not just for a visit.
The 350-year-old document, the Flushing Remonstrance was signed on December 27, 1657 to bring the concept of religious freedom to the area. Other than four visits back to Flushing, the most recent being in 1999, the document has been locked away in a safe in Albany.
Former managing editor of The Queens Courier and president of the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park World’s Fair Association, David Oates, was the driving force behind the last visit of the Remonstrance. With the help of The Queens Courier, Oates made a case at that time to have the document returned and put on display for the Millennium.
“It was a beautiful thing because we really saw the reaction it got and really brought life back to the document,” Oates remembered.
According to Queens Museum of Art Executive Director Tom Finkelpearl, both the museum and the Flushing Library have put in a request to the New York State Archives for a temporary loan to bring the Remonstrance back to Queens for the 350th Anniversary.
However, since the Queens Museum of Art now has all the facilities to care for such an important historical document, perhaps it is finally time for Queens to become its permanent home.
In such a diverse borough as Queens, with its polyglot religions and numerous languages and cultures, perhaps Governor Eliot Spitzer could take up Oates’ cause and intercede with the Archives and make this group’s wish come true. Why should such a piece of Queens history be locked away when it could be on display for all to see and learn from?
There is no downside to this deed governor - you can make it happen.
New Healthwise Section
In keeping with The Queens Courier motto, “We’re All About You,” we will be changing our monthly Seniors Today Section in both name and in content.
We will continue to feature stories about active adults who are giving back to their communities or who have interesting life-stories to tell. Nevertheless, we will be adding articles about your health, dealing with health issues, fitness and nutrition, managing stress and healthier living and life-style choices.
That will be the mission of our new section, Healthwise, which will appear on the first Thursday of every month. We are changing to better serve you, our readers.
Look for the new Healthwise Section on February 1.
