Many Local Memorial Day Events
Service and sacrifice will be celebrated by Queens residents at various Memorial Day marches and ceremonies scheduled in the days ahead.
Everyone is welcome to attend local parades and memorial services honoring generations of soldiers who, through the years, gave their lives in defense of the nation. The parades, in particular, are expected to draw a variety of marching bands, local community and youth groups, elected officials, classic automobiles, veteran post members and active soldiers.
Scheduled to take place rain or shine, some of the Memorial Day events in the Times Newsweekly coverage area (listed by neighborhood) include the following:
Ridgewood/Glendale
For the 76th time, Ridgewood and Glendale residents will come together for their annual Memorial Day Parade scheduled for this Monday morning, May 26.
Organized by the Allied Veterans Memorial Committee of Ridgewood and Glendale, this year’s march begins at 11 a.m. at the Ridgewood Memorial Triangle, located at the corner of Myrtle and Cypress avenues. The parade will be preceded by a brief memorial ceremony.
Once the parade commences, the participants will head east along Myrtle Avenue to the Glendale Memorial Triangle, located at the corner of Myrtle and Cooper avenues. The parade will conclude with another memorial service honoring local war heroes.
Charles Dunn, a Korean War veteran and member of the Sgt. Edward Miller Post 7336 in Glendale, will serve as grand marshal of this year’s parade.
Maspeth
Female service members will be honored in a special way at Maspeth’s Memorial Day Parade, which will take place this Sunday afternoon, May 25.
Sponsored by the United Veterans and Fraternal Organizations of Maspeth (UVFOM), the march- themed this year as “Maspeth Honors Women in the Military”-begins at 1 p.m. in front of the Walter A. Garlinge Memorial Triangle at the corner of Grand and 57th avenues.
From there, the procession will wind its way through local streets, led by two long-time Maspeth residents who are this year’s grand marshals: Karen Burke, the UVFOM corresponding secretary and assistant vice president of Maspeth Federal Savings bank; and Leonard Masone, a local attorney who serves as president of the Maspeth Kiwanis Foundation and board member at Maspeth Town Hall.
The parade will conclude at about 2 p.m. with a ceremony at Maspeth Memorial Park, located at the corner of Grand Avenue and 69th Street. As reported in last week’s Times Newsweekly, two Maspeth war veterans will be honored: Anthony Simone, who fought in the Korean War; and Leo J. Wasil, a World War II veteran.
Retired Army Capt. Laura Zimmerman will serve as the ceremony’s guest speaker.
Forest Hills
All are invited to pay tribute to the troops during the Forest Hills Memorial Day Parade along Metropolitan Avenue this Sunday morning.
Sponsored by the American Legion Continental Post 1424, the march will begin at noon sharp at the corner of Metropolitan and Ascan avenues. The participants will head west on Metropolitan Avenue to Trotting Course Lane, then make a short north turn to Remsen Cemetery Park, located at the corner of Trotting Course Lane and Alderton Street.
Msgr. John McGuirl, pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Church, and Community Board 6 Chairperson Joseph Hennessy serve as the grand marshals of this year’s parade.
Middle Village
The St. Margaret’s Catholic War Veterans Post 1172 in Middle Village will hold solemn tributes to the fallen this Monday morning.
Post members will attend a special Memorial Mass to local fallen soldiers at 9:30 a.m. at St. Margaret Church, located at the corner of 80th Street and Juniper Valley Road.
Shortly after the Mass, the post will gather for a memorial service at 11 a.m. at the Middle Village Veterans Triangle, located at the corner of Gray and 77th streets. Wreathes will be laid at the monument, followed by a military salute and the playing of “Taps.”
Woodhaven residents will pay homage to America’s troops at two memorial events, the first of which is scheduled for this evening, Thursday, May 22.
The Woodhaven Business Improvement District will hold its annual Memorial Day ceremony tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Forest Parkway Plaza, located at the corner of Forest Parkway and Jamaica Avenue.
On Memorial Day Monday, the American Legion Post 118 will hold its annual ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on the steps of its hall located at the corner of 89th Avenue and 91st Street.
Traditionally, both services include remarks from local veterans and elected officials, patriotic songs and a wreath-laying at the plaza’s monument.
Kew Gardens
The Friends of Maple Grove Cemetery will honor those lost in wars past with a special Memorial Day service and musical celebration this Saturday afternoon, May 24, at the Kew Gardens burial grounds.
As announced, the program begins at 3 p.m. near the Center at Maple Grove Cemetery, located at 127-15 Kew Gardens Rd. Free parking is available.
The event will feature a color guard followed by music and reflections honoring the nation’s soldiers.
For more information, visit www.friendsofmaplegrove.org.
Woodside
Generations of Woodside soldiers will be remembered at the community’s Memorial Day parade this Monday morning, sponsored by the St. Sebastian’s Catholic War Veterans Post 870.
Following a 10 a.m. Memorial Mass at St. Sebastian’s Church, located at the corner of Roosevelt Avenue and 58th Street, veterans will gather at the Woodside Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the corner of 57th Street and Woodside Avenue.
The parade will step off at about 11 a.m. following the ceremony, with participants walking through the Woodside streets. It will stop in front of Post 870’s headquarters on 61st Street near Roosevelt Avenue and at the Woodside war memorial at the corner of Roosevelt and Woodside avenues for wreath-layings and other tributes.
Marchers will then head west onto Woodside Avenue to 56th Street and enter Doughboy Playground. The parade will conclude with a ceremony at the World War I monument.
Howard Beach
Howard Beach residents will honor the troops at the neighborhood’s Memorial Day parade this Monday morning.
Organized by the Bernard J. Coleman VFW Post 2565, the parade begins at 11 a.m. Monday at Coleman Square, located at the corner of 103rd Street near 159th Avenue, near the Howard Beach-JFK Airport train station.
The march will then wind its way through streets in the “old” section of Howard Beach before returning to Coleman Square for a closing ceremony.
