Woodside (11377) lost more native sons in the Vietnam War than any other zip code in the entire United States. And of course, countless other Queens heroes have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country over the years.
The borough honors service members – especially those who died and their family members – with parades, religious services, and ceremonies this upcoming Memorial Day Weekend. Here’s a chronological list of some activities.
Saturday, May 25
The Bayside Hills Civic Association’s annual ritual is set for Memorial Hall at Bell Boulevard and 53rd Avenue at 9:30 am.
By the lake in Maple Grove Cemetery, Scout Troup 177 and Pack 177 will play Taps and read the names of all war heroes who are buried in the Kew Gardens resting place at 11 am. In case of rain, the two-hour event, which is sponsored by Friends of Maple Grove, will take place in Celebration Hall.
Sunday, May 26
The Forest Hills tribute begins with an informal gathering outside American Legion Continental Post 1424 at 107-15 Metropolitan Ave. at 11 am. Then at noon, the procession goes west on Metropolitan to Alderton Lane, where a right turn leads to Remsen Family Cemetery for a wreath-laying.
The Maspeth march starts at Walter A. Garlinge Memorial Park at 72nd Place and Grand Avenue at 1 pm. It ends with another ceremony at Maspeth Memorial Park at 69th Street and Grand Avenue.
The College Point commemoration lines up in the vicinity of 28th Avenue, College Point Boulevard, and Ulmer Street at 2 pm. It ends at a reviewing stand at MacNeil Park on Poppenhusen Avenue.
Monday, May 27
Scheduled for five hours, the Laurelton parade kicks off at Merrick Boulevard between Francis Lewis Boulevard and 230th Street at 9 am.
In Howard Beach, the day begins at 9:30 am with Mass at Our Lady of Grace Church, 100-05 159th Ave. With an 11 am kick off, the parade route begins and ends at One Coleman Square in the vicinity of 159th Avenue and 103rd Street. The VFW Post 2565 is the sponsor and organizer. (P.S. There’s an after party at Rail Bar & Grill at 2 Coleman Sq.)
The 93th annual Little Neck/Douglaston observance, which is among the biggest in the entire country, features a full morning of related activities. First up is an interfaith service at St. Anastasia Church at 45-14 245th St. at 10 am. Immediately afterward, a wreath-laying is scheduled at the Veterans Monument and Flagpole at the edge of the church’s parking lot by Alameda Avenue and Northern Boulevard. As always, the parade steps off at 2 pm.
The American Legion Post 1836 spearheads a 67th annual ceremony in the main archway in Boulevard Gardens, 31st Avenue and 54th Street in Woodside, at 10 am. Activities include an opening prayer by Rev. John O’Neill from Corpus Christi Church, remarks by Post Commander Alan Feuer, and a recitation of the deceased Post and Women’s Auxiliary members. Afterward, a social event is scheduled at Post headquarters at 30-45 Hobart St.
In Woodside, St. Sebastian Church holds its annual Remembrance Mass at 10 am. Then at 11 am, the Catholic War Veterans Post 870 parade marches from the Vietnam Memorial at 57th Street and Woodside Avenue.
The second annual Elmhurst program is at Nine Heroes Plaza in the vicinity of Broadway, 76th Street and 41st Avenue at 11 am. Sponsored by the Newtown Civic Association and the Elmhurst History & Cemeteries Preservation Society, participants recite the Pledge of Allegiance, join in song, place wreaths, flowers, and line flags along the perimeter, and enjoy light refreshments. Then, they head to Elmhurst Memorial Hall at 88-28 43rd Ave. for a second wreath-laying.
The 86th annual Ridgewood/Glendale procession alternates direction every year, but it always begins at 11 am. In 2024, the flow goes from Ridgewood to Glendale. So the step-off is Ridgewood Veterans Triangle at Myrtle and Cypress avenues and the ending point is the Glendale Memorial Triangle at Myrtle and Cooper avenues. The grand marshall in Jim Dwyer, a Navy veteran who served in Cuba, Europe, and Vietnam. The main organizer is the Allied Veterans Memorial Committee of Ridgewood and Glendale.
The Whitestone Veterans Memorial Association‘s ritual steps off from Whitestone Memorial Park on 149th Street between 16th Road and 15th Drive at 11 am.
The Rosedale activity starts at 243rd Street between Mayde Road and 145th Avenue at 11:30 am.
Last but certainly not least, the Rockaway extravaganza begins on Rockaway Beach Boulevard between Beach 129th and Beach 130th streets at noon.
Editor’s note: It is believed that a Memorial Day event is planned for Woodhaven, but the It’s In Queens website couldn’t confirm the details. If you have any information, please send it to [email protected].
Top image: Bayside Hills Civic Association;
bottom image: Bayside Historical Society