Old Glory will fly across Queens this coming weekend as communities across the “World’s Borough” commemorate Memorial Day with parades and ceremonies honoring those who gave their lives in defense of the nation.
Everyone’s invited to each of the events, many of which will feature local community organizations, veterans posts, elected officials and musicians. All of the parades and ceremonies are scheduled to take place rain or shine.
Here is a list of Memorial Day events across Queens, listed in chronological order:
Forest Hills
The Forest Hills Memorial Day Parade, hosted by Forest Hills Kiwanis Club and Continental Post 1424, will take place on Sunday, May 28. The parade starts at noon at Metropolitan and Ascan Avenues and continues west to Remsen Memorial Park at Trotting Course Lane. The grand marshals for this year’s parade include Mike Perlman, Major Michael Dunne and Commander Tom Long.
Maspeth
The 33rd annual Memorial Day Parade in Maspeth on Sunday at 1 p.m. will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the USO. Participants should gather at the corner of 72nd Street and Grand Avenue (in front of the O’Kane Realty). The grand marshals for this year’s parade will be Gloria Ann Maciag, officer at the Frank Kowalinski Post; and George O’Neill, a community activist. Joining the procession will be U.S. Navy and Marine marchers.
College Point
College Point’s annual Memorial Day Parade will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, stepping off from the corner of 26th Avenue and College Point Boulevard. The march will then head along College Point Boulevard to MacNeil Park for a closing ceremony.
Laurelton
Laurelton’s 28th annual Memorial Day Parade will take place at 9 a.m. on Monday, starting at the corner of Francis Lewis and Merrick Boulevards. The march will proceed to Veterans Memorial Triangle at the corner of 225th Street and North Conduit Avenue, where a memorial ceremony will be held. The parade’s sponsors are the Laurelton Lions Club, Colonel Edward O. Gourdin VFW Post 5298, the American Legion Benjamin Moore Post 1946, the Garden Club of Laurelton, the Federated Blocks of Laurelton and the Concerned Citizens of Laurelton.
Glendale/Ridgewood
Participants for the Glendale/Ridgewood Memorial Day Parade will begin gathering at the new plaza at the intersections of Myrtle and Cooper avenues, the Glendale Memorial Triangle, on Monday, May 29. There will then be an opening ceremony at 11 a.m., followed by the start of the parade. Marchers will walk down Myrtle Avenue to the Ridgewood Memorial Triangle, located at the intersection of Myrtle and Cypress avenues.
Howard Beach
The Howard Beach Memorial Day Parade will start at Colemans Square, located at 103rd Street and 159th Road at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 29. The parade will make stops at the Vietnam War Memorial, located at 99th Street and 157th Avenue, and then head to the World War II Memorial at Assembly of God Church located at 158-31 99th St. Participants will then march to St. Barnabas Church at 159-19 58th St. before marching back to Coleman Square.
Rosedale
Rosedale will pay tribute to the troops with its Memorial Day Parade at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 29, stepping off from the corner of 243rd Street and Mayda Road. They’ll march to the Veterans and Vietnam Memorial Squares at the corner of Sunrise Highway and Francis Lewis Boulevard. Lee E. Blackmon, a retired sergeant with the U.S. Marine Corps, and Samuel Elliott of the Rosedale Civic Association are the grand marshals of the march, which is sponsored by the Rosedale Civic Association and the Laurelton-Rosedale Legion Hall Post 483.
Woodside/Sunnyside
A Memorial Day event to honor our veterans will take place at John Vincent Daniels Square at 11 a.m. on Monday, May, 29, starting at Roosevelt Avenue and 51st Street. It will be hosted by the John V. Daniels VFW Post 2813.
Whitestone
The Whitestone Veterans Memorial Association will sponsor the Whitestone Memorial Day Parade, which will begin at Whitestone Memorial Park at noon on Monday, May 29. The Jewish War Veterans Post 415, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4787, American Legion Post 131 and community groups in the neighborhood are set to participate in the parade.
Little Neck/Douglaston
The Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade, regarded as the largest parade of its kind in the nation, will begin at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 29 at Northern Boulevard and Jayson Avenue. The parade will end at The Divine Wisdom school parking lot, where refreshments will be served. The Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade Association recently announced that Terrance C. Holliday would be grand marshal and Kathryn T. Cross would be honorary grand marshal. For more information, visit their website.
