BY JADA CAMILLE
The city’s Parks Department
on Oct. 5 unveiled a replacement
Spanish Memorial
Plaque at Fort Greene Park,
meant to honor Spanish martyrs
who gave their lives during
the American Revolutionary
War.
The original plaque — presented
as a gift from King Juan
Carlos of Spain in 1976 — was
hastily placed on the west side
of the Prison Ship Martyrs’
Monument, and deteriorated
over time due to vandalism and
weather. The plaque was eventually
moved inside the Fort
Greene Park Visitor Center.
The new memorial was unveiled
during Hispanic Heritage
Month. At the plaque
presentation, members of the
Queen Sofi a Spanish Institute
and the National Society of the
Daughters of the Revolution
spoke about the plaque’s history
and signifi cance.
Patrice Degnan-Erquicia,
executive director of the Queen
Sofía Spanish Institute Executive,
believes it is important to
share the narrative of the Spanish
soldiers.
“We’re gathered here to celebrate
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
COURIER L 16 IFE, OCTOBER 8-14, 2021
together the Spanish
speaking world and their contributions
to a great nation,”
said Degnan-Erquicia. “What
better time to do it than now
during National Hispanic
Heritage month — to remember
all those who built this wonderful,
independent nation?”
The new bronze tablet was
funded by the Spanish electrical
company, Iberdrola, and is
set into a natural stone boulder
at the eastern side of the Prison
Ship Martyrs Monument plaza.
Earlier this year, the city’s
Landmarks Preservation Commission
criticized the Parks Department’s
plans for a replacement
monument, claiming the
new plaque and its proposed
location in the park were both
underwhelming and “demeaning.”
Members proposed that
Parks move to erect something
as substantial, if not more, than
the original memorial — and in
a more prominent location.
In response to the feedback,
a Parks Department spokesperson
told Brooklyn Paper that
the agency chose to place the
new plaque closer to the plaza.
Either way, the new monument
received high praise.
“Place and period markers
are so important,” said area
Councilmember and New York
City Council Majority Leader
Laurie Cumbo. “Without them,
the stories of those who came
before us, making freedom possible
for all of us, would never be
told. It is my pleasure to support
these organizations, and my
distinct honor to remember the
Spanish who gave their lives in
the American Revolution.”
The timing of the unveiling,
Cumbo said, was also especially
poignant.
“To do so during Hispanic
heritage month brings everything
full circle to me,” she said.
“Today’s unveiling is one of the
many reasons I am so proud to
call Brooklyn home.”
“The Conservancy believes
we are stronger as a community
and nation when we recognize
the diversity of contributions
to our democracy,” added Rosamond
Fletcher, executive director
of the Fort Greene Park
Conservancy. We are grateful
that the plaque honoring the
brave Spanish soldiers will be
in the park again for all users
to appreciate.”
The original plaque not long after
installation in 1976. LPC
City offi cials at the unveiling of a brand new Spanish Memorial Plaque at
Fort Greene Park on Oct. 5. Photo by Jada Camille
A historic unveiling!
New Spanish Memorial Plaque unveiled at Fort Greene Park
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