Remembering ancestors

The ancient Ching Ming ceremony was held at Maple Grove Cemetery on Saturday, April 5, giving members of the community a chance to pay tribute to their ancestors.
This marks the second year that Maple Grove has had the event, which was also sponsored by Commerce Bank, the Flushing Development Center, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and the International Buddhist Progress Society.
A Chinese tradition, Ching Ming “is a time of reflection, remembrance and communion with past generations.” Cindy Lin, the President of the International Buddhist Progress Society, said that it is a day that unites families and gives people a chance to pray for their ancestors.
Fred Fu, the Director of the Flushing Development Center and board member of the Friends of Maple Grove, said that it is not always possible to make it to other countries to pay respects to one’s ancestors, which is why it is important to have such an event in the United States. He also described Ching Ming as being a good day to bring people together.
“This is a very important holiday in the Chinese tradition,” said Councilmember John Liu. “This is really the first kind of this ceremony in New York City.”
While addressing those gathered for the ceremony, Assemblymember Ellen Young said that the tradition shows that not only are seniors respected while they are alive, but they are also respected after they have passed on.
Commerce Branch Manager Robert Young said that through the event they want to bring the Asian community together with Maple Grove while also giving understanding of their traditions.
The Ching Ming festival at Maple Grove, which is located in Kew Gardens, included performances, a blessing, balloon inscriptions and a release of the balloons.
Flushing resident Lisa Xue attended the event with her 3-year-old granddaughter Hannah. Xue said that her parents are buried in China, so she wanted to take the opportunity to remember them.
Whei Tsung, a resident of Manhattan, said that it is important to remember the generations who came before. Her 11-year-old daughter Jenny Dhoumo said that she thought it was a great event and that they wrote a message to their ancestors on their balloon.
“I’m a lover of traditions from around the world,” said Linda Mayo-Perez, the President and CEO of Maple Grove Cemetery. “I love ceremony, I love ritual. I think it’s…integral to the human experience.”
Mayo-Perez said that her goals for events such as the Ching Ming festival is that people will become more tolerant of one another and learn more about the traditions of various members of the community.
To find out more about upcoming events at Maple Grove Cemetery, visit www.maplegrove.biz.