A host of organizations teamed to host the 8th annual Greenpoint Memorial Day Parade, which took place on May 25, the day before Memorial Day.
After embarking from the American Legion St. Stanislaus Post (519 Leonard Street), the procession marched up Manhattan Avenue. When it hit St. Anthony-St. Alphonsus Church (862 Manhattan Avenue), it paused for a memorial mass before heading back down Manhattan Avenue.
The procession included marching units and boats from the U.S. Coast Guard and the New York Naval Militia, along with a 9/11 memorial van.
Also in the procession were marching units from the USS Kearsarge, a Marines unit, and the USS The Sullivans, a Navy unit.
The New York Rangers Road tour vehicle, along with the famous “Honeymooners” vintage bus joined the procession as well.
The parade originated in May of 2001 to honor veterans of World War II, who at the time were dying at a rate of 1,000 per day.
But after the 9/11 terrorists attacks a few months later, the parade was expanded to recognize all veterans.
This year’s parade honored Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Patchogue, Long Island native and NAVY SEAL who died June 27, 2005 while leading a special reconnaissance mission in Asadabad, Afghanistan.
Explaining the significance of the parade, Rick Kenny, the event organizer and a Vietnam veteran, said: “Because this is an immigrant community, we want to educate the new people coming into the neighborhood about the U.S. military, so the can recognize the contribution of the veterans.”
