May. 30, 2023 By Julia Moro
On Friday, May 26, the second annual Memorial Day Ceremony in Kissena Park brought live music, local dignitaries, veterans groups, a presentation of the Colors by members of the Francis Lewis High School JROTC, a flower-laying ceremony and more to the Flushing community.
Those in attendance included Councilwoman Sandra Ung, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, state Senator John Liu, veterans groups, local students, Boy Scout Troop 253 and others.
Photo by Paul Frangipane
“It is important to begin Memorial Day weekend on a reflective note. Anyone who has ever served our country in the military knows that service means sacrifice,” Ung said. “It requires a personal sacrifice, it requires a sacrifice of our friends, family and other loved ones and in some instances, it still requires ultimate sacrifices.”
During the event, four students were recognized for their entries in the 2023 Flushing Memorial Day essay and poetry contest.
Photo by Paul Frangipane
Veterans and others in the crowd were then invited to lay flowers at the memorial before departing.
Photo by Paul Frangipane
Photo by Paul Frangipane
The event was held in front of the Korean War Memorial. Katz mentioned that the memorial said “the forgotten war,” saying that those who fought in the Korean War will never be forgotten.
“People that died for our country in all wars will never be forgotten,” Katz said. “We need to make sure the services are there and the health care is there and that when people come home from fighting there is an infrastructure of support that is waiting for them.”
The Kissena Park Korean War Memorial during a Memorial Day observation on Friday, May 26, 2023Photo by Paul Frangipane
District Attorney Melinda Katz speaking at Kissena Park on Memorial Day.Photo by Paul Frangipane
Additional reporting by Paul Frangipane.