June 11, 2012 Staff Report
Several hundred participants marched in the 43rd annual Sunnyside Kiwanis Flag Day parade on Saturday despite overcast conditions and the threat of rain.
Many neighborhood groups and organizations met at 41st Street & Greenpoint Ave. and then proceeded to march up Greenpoint Ave. as they waved US Flags.
The parade drew many onlookers who lined Greenpoint Ave., as they watched each group march behind their respective banner. Such groups included: the NYPD police band; Sunnyside Woodside Lions Club; the Pipes & Drums of County Armagh; Sunnyside Kiwanis, students from P.S. 199 and IS 125, Woodside on the Move, United Forties Civic Association, St. Teresa’s Catholic Church, the Sunnyside Drum and Bugle Corps., VFW Ladies Auxiliary and members of the Queens County Council V.F.W. Post 2813.
The clubs and groups all turned out to commemorate June 14 1777, the day the Second Continental Congress created Old Glory.
Fire fighter Bill Kregler marched with his wife, Janet, son Kevin and nephew Keith Scerola, who represented the 9/11 first responders. Kregler said with pride that this parade might be the only one of its kind “on the whole East Coast.”
The NYPD held up traffic on Queens Boulevard for twenty minutes as the parade crossed from Greenpoint Ave. onto Sunnyside Veterans Triangle (later renamed: Joseph Sabba Park) at 49th Street.
A crowd gathered in the park and sang patriotic songs. Several local politicians, including Congressman Joe Crowley and Councilmen Jimmy Van Bramer and Daniel Dromm, spoke at the ceremony in the park.
State Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan summed up the event best. “This is what makes this district so special. We choose to be here on a Saturday morning to celebrate our country and our flag.”
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4 Comments
P.S. 199Q students marched proudly!
This was a beautiful & patriotic parade. Some people passing we didn’t know what group they were representing. Identify yourselves…carry your banner proudly .
As for myself, wife & children we will make this parade a tradition!
Its a wonderful tradition. Thanks to all who have kept it going over the years.
It was a nice event, notice how all the complainers on this site have nothing good to say!