For years, the Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade Organization has had an “Art & Essay/Poetry Contest” for school kids from around their neighborhood area.
Hundreds of kids from both public and private schools submit their work, on themes appropriate for their grade, and those judged best by the contest committee receive educational kits, certificates and awards.
On Friday, May 15 a ceremony was held at the Ernie Pyle U.S. Army Reserve Center at Fort Totten in Bayside, where the grade-winning contestants and their families were treated to hot dogs and sodas, courtesy of the Douglaston Market
Shown here, State Senator Frank Padavan (kneeling) helped present the awards for winners from each grade and the grand prize winners, Jae Eun Kim, a sixth grader at M.S. 67 for art and eighth grader Anastasia Gasper of Saint Anastasia’s School, for her essay.
The 2009 parade’s Grand Marshal, Master Sergeant Chester “Chet” Marcus, and contest committee chair Barbara Barba (at right) also presented awards.
