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• LITTLE NECK LEDGER
• WHITESTONE TIMES
June 18-June 24, 2021
A LASTING LEGACY
Community celebrates Whitestone war hero with newly co-named street
BY JENNA BAGCAL
On the 77th anniversary of
D-Day, the Whitestone community
gathered to commemorate
a longtime resident and
World War II veteran with a
street named in his honor.
Councilman Paul Vallone
hosted the street co-naming
at the intersection of 156th
Street and Cryder’s Lane,
which was unveiled as Corporal
John McHugh Way.
McHugh lived in Whitestone
from 1955 until his death in
2019.
“I am honored to be able
to unveil a memorial to a local
man who was truly a hero.
Corporal John McHugh was
the epitome of bravery, and
truly emblematic of what
it meant to be a part of the
Greatest Generation on the
77th anniversary of D-Day,”
Vallone said. “This will stand
to remind future generations
of the sacrifice and courage of
Corporal McHugh and ensure
that his legacy endures.”
Back in 2019, the City Council
unanimously approved
Vallone’s proposed legislation
to co-name the street but
the spring 2020 ceremony was
held off due to COVID-19.
During his time in the U.S.
Army, McHugh fought during
some of the most gruesome
battles as part of the First
Photo by Dominick Totino
Infantry Division, which was
formed in 1917 during World
War I. His accomplishments
included storming Omaha
Beach during the early stages
of the liberation of France and
the battles of Aachen, Hurtgen
Forest, Crucifix Hill, the
Bulge and Normandy.
The late Whitestone
resident was honorably discharged
with the rank of
Corporal seven months after
World War II ended.
“Two years ago, I had the
honor to attend the 75th anniversary
of D-Day in Normandy
as part of a Congressional
Delegation. Before traveling
to France, I met with John
McHugh at his home in Whitestone.
As we spoke, Corporal
John McHugh vividly described
the ‘chaos and hell’ of
that pivotal day in 1944,” Congressman
Tom Suozzi said.
“CPL. John McHugh Way will
serve as a reminder to all who
pass down his street of the
service and sacrifice of our
‘Greatest Generation.'”
For his service and valor,
the Army awarded McHugh
with the Silver Star, the
Bronze Star, the European
Theatre of Operations ribbon,
the Combat Infantryman
Badge and two Presidential
Unit Citations. Belgium
honored McHugh with a Fort
Eger badge.
Back at home, McHugh was
inducted in the state Senate’s
Veterans Hall of Fame in 2014
and was also honored at the
Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial
Day Parade. In 2019,
he was the grand marshal
of the Whitestone Memorial
Day Parade.
“It is an honor and a privilege
to join Councilman Vallone,
the McHugh family, and
the Whitestone community
in commemorating the life of
a true American hero, World
War II veteran Corporal John
McHugh. Corporal McHugh
risked everything when he
volunteered for service and
fought valiantly with Allied
forces at the Battle of
Normandy 77 years ago. Conaming
the street in front
of his Whitestone home as
‘Cpl. John McHugh Way’ will
ensure that his spirit, valor
and patriotism will be remembered
for generations to
come,” Assemblyman Edward
Braunstein said.
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