In a celebration that has grown each year since its inception, the third annual Queens Veterans Day Parade was held on Sunday afternoon in Middle Village, honoring five veterans that served in the Vietnam War.
The veterans, along with their family, friends and local residents, marched along Metropolitan Avenue from 79th Place to Christ the King High School, where a ceremony was held.
The parade started at noon with Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village), Congressman Joe Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) and Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D- Astoria) marching alongside local organizations like the Middle Village Kiwanis Club and Boy Scouts from Troop 119 in St. Margaret’s Church in Middle Village.
The five Vietnam War veterans honored at this year’s parade served in either the Army or Marine Corps. Veterans from World War II and the Korean War were honored at the parade in 2009 and 2010 respectively.
Fred Schwally was one of this year’s Grand Marshals and honorees. A Brooklyn resident who served in the Army from 1967 to 1968, Schwally encouraged veterans to stay involved in the community and go to their local veterans center after they leave the service.
Schwally says going to a veteran’s center in Brooklyn for the last 13 years has helped him cope with the post traumatic stress disorder he suffered from after returning from Vietnam. He said that joining the center allowed him to meet new people and keep his mind off of his disorder, and believes all veterans would benefit from the interaction and friendship.
“Once you go, you don’t leave,” Schwally said. “I hear people say ‘no I don’t need it I’m fine,’ but sometimes living with yourself is no answer.” In addition to going to the veterans center, Schwally has been a member of the Catholic War Veterans, a Virginia-based organization that has a local unit in Astoria, since 1968.
Ralph Rosa was another Vietnam Veteran honored as a Grand Marshal at the parade. He served with the New York Army Na- tional Guard from 1965 until 1971. Rosa is a member of the parade committee and helped create the essay contest new to the parade this year.
Rosa told the crowd he was proud to be among the parade’s honorees and to have his military service recognized in his home neighborhood of Middle Village. “It’s in my blood — you sacrifice for your country,” he said.
Rosa was responsible for reading some of the more than 300 entries submitted in the essay contest, which had a theme of, “What is Veterans Day and what does it mean to me or my family?” Rosa said that he was impressed with the knowledge the students had about Veterans Day and recognizing the sacrifice veterans make by fighting in a war.
Seven winners were chosen, including Niamh Norvez, a fifth grader from Sacred Heart School in Glendale and Keley Roberts, a sixth grader from Our Lady of Hope School in Middle Village. Norvez and Roberts attended the parade and received certificates of recognition for their award- winning essays.
Other veterans who attended the parade were pleased to see that their past efforts are still being recognized today.
“It shows you that at least some still think about the veterans,” said Charlie Farrell, who served in the Army during World War II and currently lives in Glendale.
According to Tania Broschart, chairwom- an of the parade committee, next year’s pa- rade will be on Sunday, Nov. 4th.
By Luis Gronda
