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Tuesday, May 27, 2014

The Forum covers Sunday's Broad Channel Memorial Day Parade




HONORING THE HEROES WHO DID NOT COME HOME: BROAD CHANNEL MEMORIAL DAY PARADE DRAWS PATRIOTIC CROWD

Photos by Anna Gustafson
Photos by Anna Gustafson
For the crowd of veterans and other residents who gathered at the Broad Channel Memorial Day parade Sunday, the weekend was not about barbecues or the unofficial beginning of summer – it was about remembering the men and women who gave their lives for their country, whether that was on the rolling hills of Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War, the beaches of Normandy in World War II, the jungles of Vietnam, or the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan. among a long list of other places.
It was about saluting the memory of the more than 650,000 Americans who have died in combat since the Revolutionary War, as well as the 310,000 who have died during warfare but not directly in combat, and the 210,000 who died while training or serving in non-combat areas.
It was about saying thank you to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and will never be able to hear those words being said to them.
“Memorial Day is a very different day of reflection than Veterans Day,” said Pete Zaun, who served in Vietnam and is the new commander of Broad Channel’s VFW Prince Wynn Post 260. “Veterans Day is the time we set aside to honor everyone who has worn the uniform. But Memorial Day is the day when we remember those who willingly laid down their lives for love of country and freedom.”
Parade participants, including members of the VFW Post 260 and American Legion Post 1404, began the event with a wreath-laying ceremony at the 17th Road Park flag pole, after which they traveled along Cross Bay Boulevard to the George Riekers Veterans Memorial Park for another wreath-laying ceremony and closing remarks. Others who participated in the parade were veterans from the St. Albans Hospital, auxiliary members, Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Rockaway Park), and Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park).
Following the parade’s conclusion, the VFW Post 260 on Shad Creek Road hosted a meal for veterans and other members of the community.
As the marchers traveled down Cross Bay Boulevard, community residents lined the street to wave American flags – with many of them shouting words of gratitude as the veterans passed them by.
“We march in the parade with a sense of gratitude, patriotism, and pride, as American flags line the boulevard come into view, representing respect for those Americans who bravely fought and died for our freedoms,” Zaun said.
Continuing his speech, Zaun said it is imperative that residents continue to honor the military men and women who have died – not only on Memorial Day, but every day.
“We can honor them by living each day thanking God for our freedom, and remembering those who defended it to their very deaths,” he said. “Honor them by how you live. Teach your children and your grandchildren about those who did not come home, but yet their lives made – and continue to make -a difference to the nation and world.
“Those who do not understand the fragile nature of freedom, and what it takes to protect and preserve it, might not be willing to defend it,” he said. “Those we honor today gave their lives for freedom. Their history has given us a promising future.”
By Anna Gustafson

Below is the full text of the speech that Pete Zaun gave during the Memorial Day parade – more photos of the parade follow the speech’s text.
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, comrades, those serving in our military today, and the families of veterans.
I’d like to recognize and thank the dignitaries who are with me today. It is a special honor for me to speak today about Memorial Day, and about those whose lives and service we pay tribute to today.
Memorial Day is a very different day of reflection than Veterans Day. Veterans Day is the time we set aside to honor everyone who has worn the uniform. But Memorial Day is the day when we remember those who willingly laid down their lives for love of country and freedom. Your presence here honors them. Thank you for being here.
In all wars combined, more than 650,000 Americans died fighting for freedom and another 310,000 died in theater but not directly in combat. Another 210,000 patriots died while training or serving in non-combat areas.
As a veteran of the U.S. Army, and a veteran of the Vietnam War, Memorial Day holds a special place in my heart. Some of my brothers in uniform who I served with did not return. I miss them dearly, but I keep their memories alive in my heart. Even the most decorated of veterans will tell you that they themselves are not heroes. The true heroes are the ones who did not return home.
As the American flag flies over us at this memorial park, we are reminded that many flags cover the caskets of deceased service members. Its waves in the wind brings an emotional point that permeates the entire memorial park with the realization that commitment, service, and sacrifice was met with an immense love of country. With our hearts brought to rest, our bodies enter a state of respect that offers gratitude to the men and women who have sacrificed their lives, and fulfill us with an appreciation for the veterans’ family.
As the parade ends at this memorial, our turns of emotion – from deep reflection, the pangs of a lonely heart and a sense of loss, to valued memories relived.
We march in parade with  a sense of gratitude, patriotism, and pride as American flags line the boulevard come into view, representing respect for those Americans who bravely fought and died for our freedoms.
Many of you came here today to remember a veteran you loved, but I ask that you also spend a few moments for all those who have died. Each soldier, sailor, and airman has a story, friends, and family. We may not know them personally, but thank that person too. Someone had to stand by your loved one during war as a battle buddy, or as a comrade after their military service. No one serves alone. Perhaps this person was one who meant a great deal to your loved one.
On this Memorial Day, we thank each soldier, sailor, Marine, airman, or coast guardsman who died in service to America. We cannot shake their hands or give them a hug today, but your thoughts and prayers will be known to them.
The VFW mission honors those who have died in service to America – and those who passed away after their military service. We do this through service to others – in part by joining with other veterans groups to provide military details for funerals in cemeteries. We also serve all veterans and our troops, our youth and entire communities through many activities and programs.
The heroes we honor today performed a tremendously valuable service to all of us and paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom’s future. Without their service, we might live in a country where public assemblies are broken up with arrests. We might live under a government that tells citizens how to vote. We might not have the freedom to live, work, and worship as we wish. Thank God, and thank them, for the freedom that surrounds us every day.
Stand up and let your voices be heard when you see things that dishonor those who gave America its freedom. Don’t let lethargy or apathy snuff out the flame of freedom that our deceased veterans fought so hard to keep burning brightly.
Their names might not be familiar, but quality of life in large measure was made possible by those we honor today. Freedom lives because of the patriots have died. It’s safe to say that each of us has a very special veteran that stands out from the rest. Not because of their service record, but because of his or her character or relationship to you.
So many servicemen and women from World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, Operation Desert Shield and Storm, and the War on Terror sacrificed their lives.
With tomorrow being Memorial Day, we are reminded about the full cost of war. Operation Iraqi Freedom lasted over eight years. We lost many of the finest men and women our nation has to offer. America suffered far more casualties than any other nation fighting alongside us. We remember them on this day. Regardless of where veterans who died in war served – in Afghanistan or Anzio, Kuwait or Korea, Vietnam or Vienna – each gave the rest of their life so we, and generations of Americans to come, could spend our lives enjoying freedom.
We must also remember those who honorably served and died during unknown special operation missions, peacekeeping missions like in Beirut, and smaller military engagements like in Somalia, Panama, and Grenada.
We must show the same bravery and determination in preserving our nation’s foundation of freedom, as those we honor today did so while giving their lives while fighting for us overseas.
We can honor them by living each day thanking God for our freedom, and remembering those who defended it to their very deaths. Honor them by how you live. Teach your children and your grandchildren about those who did not come home, but yet their lives made – and continue to make – a difference to a nation and the world.
Those who do not understand the fragile nature of freedom, and what it takes to protect and preserve it, might not be willing to defend it. Those we honor today gave their lives for freedom. Their history has given us a promising future.
Yes, we are free because our nation’s brave sons and daughters made the ultimate sacrifice for that freedom. They could have kept their heads down from enemy fire, and remained crouched in a foxhole to let others do the dangerous work. They could have left the sides of their injured battle buddies to find more secure ground. They could have stayed down after taking a bullet or after being wounded by shell fragments. But they did not.
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In addition to the above story and photo's, I received the following email from Anna Gustafson, the Forum's editor, providing a link to the Forum's Facebook page which contains many other photo's of Sunday's Memorial Day activities.....

Hi Pete - 

It was so nice seeing you today! I wanted to let you know I put a bunch of photos up on our facebook - unfortunately I won't be able to fit all of them into the paper, but at least they can go somewhere. 


Hope you have a good rest of the weekend,
Anna


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