Borough vets and area officials on Friday cut the ribbon on the Queens Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Elmhurst Park.
By Michael V. Cusenza
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) delivers remarks Friday.
A project at least 10 years in the making finally came to fruition on Friday as borough vets and area officials cut the ribbon on the Queens Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Vietnam Veterans of America National President John Rowan was instrumental in continuing to seek the funding needed to design and build the memorial.
The monument features the names of 371 service members who called Queens home and died during the Vietnam War, or served and are classified as “missing in action.” It also recognizes borough veterans who have since lost their lives as a result of their service during the conflict.
Borough President Katz hugs a veteran at Friday’s opening ceremony.
Construction of the memorial has been long sought by many of the nearly 59,000 Armed Services veterans living in The World’s Borough—led by late former Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 32 President Pat Toro.
The first-of-its-kind boroughwide memorial was built on the northwest corner of Elmhurst Park.
The memorial’s design and construction was fully funded by Borough President Melinda Katz, who allocated $2.3 million in capital funding between Fiscal Years 2017-2018, on top of the $550,000 first secured in FY08 by then-City Councilwoman Katz.
Two veterans search the wall of 371 names of fellow Vietnam veterans.
“To our veterans of the Vietnam War, we know the sacrifices you made, the sacrifices your families made. The Queens Vietnam Veterans Memorial will help ensure generations never forget, and remind our borough, city and nation to remain ever grateful,” Katz said.
Photo Courtesy of the Office of the Borough President
