By Rich Bockmann
It was just before 2 p.m. Sunday as 7-year-old Allen Ge waited outside his home on College Point Boulevard with his friends, eagerly anticipating the festive procession he knew was headed his way in a moment.
And then it happened: Allen’s face lit up, the miniature American flag that had gone static in his hand was suddenly a flutter with motion and the young boy squinted into the midday sun as he heard the first rat-a-tat of the drums of the College Point Memorial Day Parade.
The disciplined order of that first martial drumming was soon lifted, as the band next broke into the Mickey Mouse Club song. Surely, though, the most exciting part of the day for Allen and the hundreds of children who lined the street came when Timothy Bradford, a sailor from the USS John L. Hall visiting for Fleet Week, bounced from one side of the street to the other with a bag of candy to distribute to the delight of every child. Dressed in his white uniform, Bradford beamed a smile as bright as the kids he visited.
City Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone), state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) and state Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Little Neck) marched in the parade, all a safe distance from the thunderous group of motorcycles located toward the back of the procession. The riders seemed to be a fan favorite, turning up the volume from their tailpipes at the slightest request, especially when they stopped outside their hangout, the 7th Gear Bar.
“It’s great! The bikers are just showing their love for the troops,” said spectator Frank Lamia.
On the tamer side, a Girl Scouts troop from the First Reformed, St. John’s and St. Fidelis churches participated in the parade for the 78th consecutive year.
Frank Feeley stood on the sidewalk, saluting his fellow veterans. When the 71-year old was asked where he was stationed he replied “the southwest.” Then after a moment he deadpanned “in the American-Indian War.”
He said this year’s parade was smaller than those in the past, probably because they were running out of veterans.
The parade marched north along the boulevard from 26th Street to its terminus at Herman A. Macneil Park, where grand marshals, elected officials and president of the Guardian Angels, Curtis Sliwa, took the opportunity to recognize the sacrifices veterans have made and continue to make for the country.
Borough President Helen Marshall said she was attending at least six parades over the weekend.
“Our people are very loyal Americans, proud Americans. We grew up in school loving our country and we need to continue that,” she said.
Sliwa, who recently had his prostate surgery after being diagnosed with cancer, said he almost did not make it to the parade he had marched in every year since 1995.
“College Point is old-school patriotic,” he said. “It’s the only parade where you can actually tell the truth and say what’s on your mind.”
The outspoken radio show host wasn’t the only person whose march signified a poignant connection to this day — or to this community.
Diane Jacobs walked with her sisters and nieces in remembrance of her father, who recently died. They wore T-shirts with a portrait of Herald Jacobs, who marched in the parade for 35 years in honor of his grandfather and father, veterans of World Wars I and II, respectively.
“He always used to march with us,” said Jacobs, slightly choked up by her emotions. “He would always salute every flag.”
Reach reporter Rich Bockmann by e-mail at rbockmann@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
