WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES MAY 25, 2017 15 Celebrate Memorial Day with these Queens parades Part of Forest Park Drive renamed to honor World War I vets BY ANTHONY GIUDICE [email protected] @A_GIUDICEREPORT Memorial Day is a time for Americans to remember and honor those who have fought and died for the freedoms this country holds dear, and now a street in Woodhaven will forever commemorate those soldiers. Forest Park Drive in Forest Park is already lined with memorial trees dedicated to those who lost their lives in World War I, but the City Council recently passed legislation to offi cially co-name the street “Forest Park Memorial Drive.” The drive was formally renamed at a May 20 ceremony held by City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, who sponsored the bill. “This co-naming continues the tradition in the park of marking and remembering our heroes,” Crowley said. “Forest Park Memorial Drive will be a lasting reminder for all who travel through the park of all that was done to protect our freedom.” The co-naming legislation gained the support of the American Legion Post 118, Vietnam Veterans Local Chapter 32, the Queens Historical Society and the Woodhaven Cultural and Historical Society. “This road now has a name that serves as a reminder that it contains several memorials to those who gave their lives in service to our country,” said Ed Wendell, executive director of the Woodhaven Cultural and Historical Society. “I think it would make their families proud and help future generations keep up the tradition of remembering their sacrifi ces, as well as supporting those young men and women currently in harm’s way. We’d like to thank Council Member Elizabeth Crowley, and all of the other electeds that supported this request, for getting this done so swift ly.” Forest Park is also home to several other memorials and monuments recognizing the sacrifi ce of soldiers who fought for the country in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. Victory Field inside Forest Park was dedicated to the “Unknown Soldier” of World War I. The park’s Strack Pond was named aft er the fi rst Woodhaven resident who died in the Vietnam War, and there are two separate 9/11 memorials in the park that remember all the people who died on that fateful day. Now, Forest Park Memorial Drive joins the many other tributes to the troops within the park. BY RIDGEWOOD TIMES STAFF [email protected] @RIDGEWOODTIMES 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 will be Mike Perlman, Mario from West Side Tennis Club, Major Michael Dunne, and Commander Tom Long. MASPETH The 33rd annual Memorial Day Parade in Maspeth will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the USO on Sunday, May 28. 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, offi cer at the Frank Kowalinski Post; and George O’Neill, a community activist. Joining the procession will be U.S. Navy and Marine marchers. 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 Memorial Day Parade will start at Coleman’s Square in Howard Beach 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. Photo: Anthony Giudice Ridgewood/Glendale parade Photo courtesy of Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley's offi ce Forest Park Drive will now be co-named Forest Park Memorial Drive.
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