Communities Come Together to Pay Respect to Service Members on Memorial Day

Hundreds of residents, business owners, civic leaders and elected officials from Howard Beach and surrounding communities on Monday honored military service members across all generations and conflicts with the annual Memorial Day Parade that culminated in an emotional ceremony at Coleman Square.

Led by Grand Marshal Bobby McGuire, a retired city firefighter who runs the Bravest Boxing team and several charitable endeavors, marchers stepped lively down sun-splashed 160^th Avenue, proudly representing area organizations including the Howard Beach-Lindenwood Civic Association, Kiwanis Club, Boy Scouts and the West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire Department, among many others.

At Coleman Square, state Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) thanked veterans.

“We all know that they are different on the outside,” Addabbo said. “But on the inside, they are all the same: an unwavering dedication to and love for our country, and for that we are forever grateful.”

Master of Ceremony Pat Connolly, commander of the Veterans of Foreign WarsPost 2565, turned to Thomas Jefferson for perspective.

“’Unfortunately, from time to time the tree of liberty must be refreshed with the blood of patriots…’” Connolly quoted, adding that “the best thing we can teach our children and grandchildren is that freedom isn’t free.”