Brooklyn's Memorial Day Parade

A week ago today Brooklyn’s 159th Memorial Day parade became a part of history. The day started out a little wet but turned into a perfect day for a parade. Many thanks to the schools and organizations who braved the weather. I was pleasantly surprised at the turnout. The New York City Joint Service Color Guard proudly led the line of march with the US Army Garrison leadership, Col. Misty Cantwell and CSM Eric Riding. Our NYPD Color Guard was sharp with the NYPD band following in their footsteps. Our Grand Marshals, BG Michael J. Deegan and Robin Kelleher, the CEO/Co-Founder of Hope for the Warriors, marched the route followed by Cary Spickler’s 1946 Wily’s jeep. Our Deputy Grand Marshals enjoyed the day, US Navy Veteran Joe Bello, Ironworker Local 361, Operating Engineer Local 14-14b and the Borinqueneers, the 65th Infantry Regiment who fought so valiantly in Korea.
Thank you to all the folks who donated to this patriotic endeavor. Could not do it without you. Our major sponsors this year made it happen. Margo & John Catsimatidis, Catholic War Veterans, the Ironworkers and Operating Engineers, Kings County American Legion, NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, Brooklyn Parks and Councilwoman Susan Zhuang. Go to www.brooklynmemorialdayparade.com to see a full list of our partners. And please use their services. They are the engine that keeps this parade marching down Third Ave. And don’t forget to eat at the 19 restaurants who donated to our fundraiser at the Salty Dog. You will probably see one of the bands who performed for our Veterans at the fundraiser.
A big shout out to Richard Tang from PS 229 who did a great job singing our nations anthem and to Star Scout John McCluskey and 2nd Class Scout Katelyn Chen from the St. Anselm’s scouting program for leading us in our pledge of allegiance. The Downtown Dames were awesome, Christian Meyers from Clan Eirean Pipes & Drums led the memorial service with his bag pipes, legionnaires from the American Legion Coffey Wison post 688 raised our flag in the park while Veteran Service organizations laid wreaths. The Veteran Corps of Artillery fired off a 21-gun salute to pay respect to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice in selfless service to our nation, and buglers Dany Dominguez & Eric Goldberg from the Fort Hamilton High School Marching Regiment played Echo Taps. Truly an amazing service to honor the fallen. Thanks again to all those who lined Third Ave. Your Veterans appreciate it. And major applause for all the volunteers. You’re the best!
Mark your calendars for Brooklyn’s 160th Memorial Day Parade on May 31, 2027.

Tommorrow is rain or shine troops!

Americas finest paying respect to all who came before them. Always Remember.

It was a week ago, when Frankie Marra kicked off our 14th benefit for Brooklyn’s 159th Memorial Day Parade and memorial service. It has become a part of our rich history. Thank you to everyone who came to the Salty Dog last Sunday to support Brooklyn’s Veterans. Many thanks to the bands who came out for this worthy cause. Frankie Marra, followed by Mad Jack, the Canny Brothers, Out of the Blue, Head N South, and Rock Farm. Catnip closed the day out with her fantastic energy. Special thanks to Jack Pollice from Rock Farm for producing a great video we used to promote the day. To say the Salty Dog rocked is an understatement.
Thanks to Bay Ridge’s iconic restaurants who donated the gift certificates for our raffle: Malone’s, Panteantico, Tirano, Brooklyn Roots, The Corner, Peppino’s, Ho’Brah, Kettle Black, Olives & Pita, Greenhouse Café, Salty Dog, Tanoreen, Skinflints, Greenwood Park, Cebu, Wicked Monk, Leo’s Pizza Restaurant, Chadwick’s, and Pipin’s. Please support these great local restaurants. Special thanks to the Knights of Columbus Dongan Council, Greenhouse Café, Indigo Murphy’s, Pipin’s Pub, Wicked Monk and the Salty Dog for selling tickets for our delicious raffle, “19 Nights in Bay Ridge.”
We really appreciate Rob and Debbie Fadel for letting us use the Salty Dog as our foxhole for the day! Thanks to our volunteers: Marianne Aalbue, Melissa del Valle Cortez, Connie Ranocchia, Cary Spickler, Irene Berger, Jeanne Eisenhardt, Donna Habib, Jennifer DeBonis, Bill Miller, Lonnie Delon and his guard the door team, Scotty, John, Rod & Keith.
I am in awe of the many comments I’ve received from so many people in support of the parade. The United Military Veterans of Kings County is proud to follow in the footsteps of the Brooklyn Veterans who came before us back to the Grand Army of the Republic who held the first Brooklyn parade in 1867. This year we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. So much to remember. Mark your calendars! The parade steps off on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25th on 3rd Av. & 78th St. at 11:00AM. Our annual memorial service will be held in Cannonball Park immediately following the parade. Please be sure to join us to remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice in selfless service throughout our nation’s history.

American Hero. May she Rest In Peace.

Iraq War. Convoy routes that soldiers called “the most dangerous roads in the world.” Every day supply trucks rolled through them. Fuel. Food. Ammunition. Everything frontline troops needed to survive. And every mile could become an ambush. Sergeant Kimberly Agar was one of the soldiers driving those convoys. Her job was brutally simple. Get the supplies through. No matter what waited on the road. Roadside bombs. Snipers. Insurgents hiding along highways. Convoy drivers were constant targets during the Iraq War. Still, Agar served a 15 month tour as a heavy transport driver, moving vital supplies through hostile territory. Then one mission changed everything. Her convoy was ambushed. Gunfire erupted. Chaos on the road. Her truck was hit during the attack. Sergeant Kimberly Agar was severely wounded in the ambush. Despite every effort to save her, she later succumbed to her injuries. She was one of many convoy soldiers who faced the same danger as frontline infantry. Driving unarmored roads. Day after day. Mission after mission. Most people never hear about convoy drivers. But countless troops stayed supplied and alive because soldiers like Kimberly Agar kept those trucks moving. A warrior who faced the road so others could keep fighting.