Why a Parade?
Greenpoint to Say Thanks Before 1,000 More
Vets Pass Away!
On Sunday morning, May 28th, the skirl of
bagpipes will awaken the residents of Manhattan Avenue. They will
signal the approach of a Veterans Memorial Parade from the St. Stanislaus
Memorial American Legion Post to St. Anthony-St. Alphonsus Church
for a "Massing of the Colors" and Memorial Mass for all
Veterans, living and deceased.
Co-sponsored by the Legion Post #1771, Lexington Council #293
of the Knights of Columbus and The Slovak Club this Parade certainly isn't going to
rival the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade or the Veterans Parades
that filled 5th Avenue following World War II, all the way through
the 1950's and 1960's, or even the Christmas Parades on Manhattan
Avenue in the 1970's and 1980's. As a matter of fact, it may not
be a very long parade at all.
But it's going to happen, even if only a handful of marchers show
up. Why? Three reasons - one, because this is Greenpoint; two, because
nobody else is doing it these days; and three, because before we
have the next one in 2008, over 350,000 more World War II veterans
will leave us, at the rate of 1,000 a day. The "Greatest Generation,"
as Tom Brokaw so aptly named it in the title of his book, is quickly
passing from us.
Yes, the old timers with the well-worn sea stories and war stories
will soon be gone and there will soon be no one to exasperate us,
yet regale us, with funny stories about "The Big One."
Oh yes, the stories are usually funny - because the humorous side
of the war masks the fear, desperation and sheer horror of war these
same old-timers experienced and will carry to their grave.
Oh, don't worry - there will still be plenty of Korean and Vietnam
Veterans around the local clubs and saloons to provide updated versions
of the "cooks who were made mechanics and the mechanics who
were made cooks" stories, because that hasn't changed in the
military since Washington crossed the Delaware. But there is a certain
urgency about our World War II Vets. We are only going to have a
few more chances to say "Thanks" for a job well done,
even though it's hard to believe that the old guy with the hearing
aid and no teeth once picked up the pieces of Pearl Harbor, and
went out and won a war fought on two fronts, on opposite sides of
the world, for you and me.
If you are over 50, you may remember news stories in your lifetime
of the death of the last surviving Civil War and Spanish-American
War Veterans. You can count the remaining Veterans of World War
I on one hand today. Maybe it's just a coincidence that the movies
"Saving Private Ryan" and "Pearl Harbor" were
being released when they were. Maybe they're just a Director's tribute
to these survivors of hell.
Then again, maybe they're subtly intended to educate a generation
of Americans born after 1975, who have never really experienced
"war," and who have not enjoyed the good feeling of a
classic Frank Capra movie about World War II, or the drama of the
"Five Sullivans" (in black and white), which aren't even
shown on network television anymore. In an upcoming movie, the technology
of digital graphics will make the few authentic Japanese Zero bombers
still left look like waves of 100's in the attack. On December 7th,
1941, the numbers and planes were all too real.
As Casey Stengel used to say, "You can look it up" - over
at the USS INTREPID Museum every December 7th, when the actual Pearl
Harbor survivors place a wreath in memory of their fallen comrades.
And that's what we will do on the morning of May 30th, right on
Manhattan Avenue, free of charge. We invite the whole Greenpoint
community - young and old to join us in the march, or on the sidelines,
or at the Mass.
Our parade may be small and corny and sentimental, but it may be
the best we can do to honor our Veterans just one more time - perhaps,
for some, the last time. Greenpointers have never been reluctant
to wear their patriotism on their sleeve. This neighborhood still
boasts a large number of Marine Corps, Navy, Army, Air Force, Coast
Guard and Merchant Marine Veterans from all wars. Let's honor each
other and those who have gone before us.
It would be nice to see a big crowd, and fill that massive Church.
And if there isn't, the organizers probably will be dismayed. But
deep down inside, we don't expect the good people of Greenpoint
to disappoint us. We take our inspiration from the famous icon of
the "Spirit of '76," just three marchers who defied their
wounds and their enemies and still marched proudly, to inspire a
nation! Come on out, thank a Vet!
Oh, and we will carry in the parade this nation's only authorized
neighborhood flag. Our neighborhood is special - it's events like
this that will keep it that way. This parade doesn't endorse war
- it merely recognizes that war is a horrible reality that moves
us to join Pope John Paul II as he pleads and prays for world peace.
We invite our newly arrived immigrants, who know well the ravages
of war, and our artistic neighbors from across the river to come
out and experience and perhaps capture for us in clay or on canvas
what makes Greenpoint such a unique and wonderful place to live!
Isn't that what attracted you to Greenpoint
in the first place?
All rights reserved.
Revised:
August 11, 2009