Forest Hills wreath-laying ceremony honors fallen soldiers
Elected officials, honorees and members of the American Legion Continental Post
#1424 attend the wreath-laying ceremony in Forest Hills. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
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our freedoms that we take for granted,”
Cappelmann said.
Bob Simpson, the Adjutant of American
Legion Continental Post #1424 and
a recipient of three Purple Hearts, received
the Veteran Honoree commemoration
award. Simpson said it was a great
honor to receive the award while he was
a veteran “who is still breathing and
standing.”
“Someone once said that death is not
final until you are forgotten,” Simpson
said. “While I breathe, all of you will live
on. And your sacrifices for our freedom
will be remembered. I salute all those
brothers and sisters who fought for us,
didn’t come back. Semper Fi!”
This year, Post #1424 also recognized
the sacrifices frontline workers made
during the COVID-19 pandemic and rewarded
Dr. Teresa Amato with the First
Responder award.
Amato thanked the American Legion
on behalf of Northwell Health for the recognition
and shared that, in partnership
with LIJ Forest Hills Hospital, the health
care facilities saved more than 1,000
COVID-19 patients. She also said the pandemic
made it evident that saving lives is
a team effort.
“We may celebrate those victories,
but it’s also proper to remember those
who perished during the pandemic. And
on this Memorial Day, remember and
mourn those in our armed services who
gave the ultimate sacrifice and also celebrate
their memories,” Amato said.
Heidi Chain, the president of the
112th Precinct Community Council, was
honored with the Civilian Community
Service award.
Chain, who serves as a liaison between
the New York Police Department
and residents to address safety issues
and other problems, said it was essential
to gather despite COVID-19 and pay
tribute to the service members who gave
their lives for their country.
“Although the method that we provide
a tribute has changed due to COVID,
the fact that we pay tribute is the most
important,” Chain said.
Congresswoman Grace Meng, state
Senator Joseph Addabbo, Queens Borough
President Donovan Richards, and
Councilman Robert Holden expressed
that it was of utmost importance to provide
veterans with the care and funds
they need and address homelessness,
mental health, and taking care of Vietnam
veterans suffering from Agent
Orange-related illnesses.
“We continue to fight, and that is just
one simple way that we can gather and
say ‘thank you so much’ to those who
paid the ultimate sacrifice for the best
country in the world,” Meng said.
Addabbo, a member of the Veterans,
Homeland Security, and Military Affairs
Committee, said it is his responsibility to
address veterans’ issues.
“That is our obligation as elected officials.
We are owed to do that. They deserve
that service. To all the veterans
here, to all those who made the ultimate
sacrifice, thank you so much,” Addabbo
said.R
ichards saluted the men and women
who selflessly protected the United
States in the face of danger “to ensure
that we as Americans can enjoy the freedoms
we have.”
Holden told the story of a young sailor
by the name of Edward Hoyt. Years back,
a young Holden found the photo of the
dashing young man in a Navy uniform
in his mother’s scrapbook. She told him
that Edward Hoyt voluntarily joined
the Navy when he was 17 years old and
died in 1942 when a German U-boat torpedoed
his boat, the USS Jacob Jones, off
Cape May in New Jersey on Feb. 28, 1942.
She recalled that Edward Hoyt’s mother
cried herself to sleep every night over the
death of her only child.
Holden said it was important to share
stories like Hoyt’s with the younger generations
to help them understand the
sacrifices the servicewomen and servicemen
have made on their behalf.
“This is why we have to pass down
these stories to all generations to understand
the sacrifice that they pay and
what we owe them,” Holden said.
The ceremony included the presentation
of three memorial wreaths. The
Continental Post #1424 wreath was presented
by Simpson and Cappelmann.
Sandy Luongo presented the Auxiliary
Post 1424 wreath. Chain and Amato presented
a wreath on behalf of Gold Star
families.
BY GABRIELE HOLTERMANN
For the second year in a row, the traditional
Forest Hills Memorial Day parade
was canceled due to COVID-19 regulations.
Instead, the Forest Hills American
Legion Continental Post #1424 held a Memorial
Day Weekend ceremony on May
30 at the Remsen Family Cemetery on
Trotting Course Lane in Forest Hills to
honor the military women and men who
made the ultimate sacrifice while serving
their country.
Post Commander Michael Arcati, a
former Navy officer, opened the ceremony
in front of about 100 veterans, community
members and elected officials
who had gathered despite the cold, rainy
weather that matched the somber tone of
the occasion. Arcati said that Memorial
Day is a day to remember and reflect on
those “who gave their lives for God and
country.”
“By all of you attending today, you’re
partaking in a vital ceremony to recognize
the great Americans who made the
ultimate sacrifice to maintain our freedom
and democracy,” Arcati said before
expressing that the ceremony was also a
celebration of Forest Hills’ diversity and
a salute to the first responders who led
the community “through the dark days
of the COVID crisis when we cannot
leave our homes, and death surrounded
us.”
Following the presentation of the colors
by the Francis Lewis High School
Army Junior ROTC Color Guard, the
Pledge of Allegiance and the National
Anthem performed by Abby Payne, Rev.
Frank Schwarz, the pastor of Our Lady
of Mercy, led the guests in prayer.
Vice Commander Pat Conley introduced
this year’s commemoration honorees,
who were acknowledged for their contribution
to the Forest Hills Community.
NYPD Capt. Joseph Cappelmann,
commanding officer of the 112th Precinct,
received the Law and Order
award.
Cappelmann said he was humbled to
accept the award on behalf of the 112th
Precinct. He said that Forest Hills and
Rego Park are among the safest neighborhoods
in New York City because of
the close relationship between the 112th
Precinct and the community.
“We always say policing is a shared
responsibility. It truly is. We really
need the community and the police to
work together in order to be successful,”
Cappelmann said.
But Cappelman also stressed that everyone
“must really not forget why we
are here today.”
“We’re here to honor all the servicemen
and servicewomen who gave their
lives to defend our nation and our freedom.
They are the true heroes. Without
them, we would not be able to enjoy
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