How soon we forget! At the Douglaston-Little Neck Memorial Day Parade for the past 25 years and more, Capt. Sam Greenberg of the U.S. Navy, a U.S. Army brigadier general, another Navy captain and I, a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, always marched together in the parade joined by former state Sen. Frank Padavan, a colonel in the Army. We are now all retired from the military.
This year, was the first I could not join the parade for personal reasons. A few days after the parade, I met Padavan and asked him how the parade was and if the old crew all marched. Much to my surprise, Padavan said he did not march because for the first time in almost 40 years he did not receive an invitation from the parade committee.
Granted, Padavan had some health problems in the recent past, which may be a reason for the committee not inviting him, but he is now fully recovered. But an invitation should have been sent and it should have been Padavan’s decision to march or not.
He could have ridden in one of the many cars. In fact, for his extraordinary 38 years of service to this community, the committee should have made Padavan an honorary parade chairman.
How soon we forget!
Bernard Haber
Former Chairman
Community Board 11
Little Neck
