By Barbara Morris
Yea, teams! The bittersweet Memorial Day weekend has come and gone, but the target for success next year has certainly been set higher by the coups of 2003 in Laurelton, Rosedale and Springfield Gardens. If you were among those who heard the weather predictions for rain and decided there would be no parades, have more faith next year.
If you were among those who heard that Mayor Michael Bloomberg had promised to participate in the Laurelton parade and said, “I’ll believe that when I see it,” you should have had faith. Bloomberg did come, and he made a good-sport opening to his speech when he announced to the large group of very wet fellow marchers that the rain was “the mayor’s ‘initiative against drought.’”
After continuing by remembering those whose lives were sacrificed to defend and protect our country, our freedoms and each of us, he presented a proclamation and was warmly applauded by an appreciative gathering.
Although the mayor couldn’t stay with us as our more local political “family members” did, we felt honored that he and Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott made a tremendous effort to include the Laurelton parade in their busy schedule. We all say “thank you.” Thank you, too, to the parade committee.
The Laurelton Lions Club, the Garden Club of Laurelton and the Federated Blocks of Laurelton, in conjunction with VFW Post 5298, the rain-soaked marchers and, of course, the friends in the media made the event one to be remembered with pride. Rosedale was no less determined to honor the memory of fallen heroes and heroines.
Last year when Rosedale’s veterans announced the end of Rosedale’s Memorial Day parades because of infirmities and anticipated lack of support, the stronger voice of Rosedale (that of Frederick Kress, president of the Rosedale Civic Association, the Cornucopia Society, the Queens Coalition for Parks, Eagle Scout and a member of multiple boards) said, “We will revitalize the Memorial Day parade.”
And the parade went on in spite of the rain and was more of a success than most of the supporters had hoped. This year it was a motorcade. The grand marshal was the Rev. Dr. Aubrey Bougher, pastor of Rosedale’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Christ, who was celebrating his 35th anniversary as an ordained minister.
Inspiring prayers were not only said by Bougher but by other members of the clergy present: The Right Rev. Charles Fry, missionary bishop, the International Lutheran Fellowship; Monsignor James Cooney, St. Clare’s Roman Catholic Church; and Monsignor Thomas Graham, St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church.
We also heard very appropriate, brief words from elected officials U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-St. Albans), state Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans), former Marine and state Assemblyman William Scarborough (D-St. Albans), and City Councilman James Sanders Jr. (D-Laurelton).
They all supported our being out there in the rain. They noted that those in the services cannot ignore orders because of the weather and nor should we ignore our obligation to show we have not forgotten and still pray for those who have sacrificed themselves.
Vietnam veteran Lester Muse, veterans’ liaison in Smith’s office, spoke, and then Kress read a touching tribute, researched from the Internet. Paul Mader promised to print his poem “Reflections” in the next informative Rosedale Civic Association newsletter, and Jim English, master of ceremonies, spoke briefly and thanked the veterans, clergy and other participants for attending.
All were then invited back to the Rosedale American Legion Hall for frankfurters, ice cream, soda and coffee. There, Commanding Officer Jim Hunt made a very gracious acknowledgmert that having the parade was the right thing to do and said next year the veterans would again like to participate fully.
The parade supporters thanked him, the other veterans and, particulary, Kress. They are the driving force that keeps volunteers, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Highway Department and sometimes the Fire and Police departments involved in maintaining, improving and protecting Rosedale’s patriotic areas honoring veterans.
Thank you all. This 2003 Memorial Day will be a nice one to remember.
