Vincy Day USA another ‘epic’ picnic
By Nelson A. King
For the eighth successive
year, thousands of Vincentians
from all walks of life – trekking
from as far as Toronto in
Canada, Miami in Florida, and
even from the homeland — converged
on Heckscher State Park
in East Islip, Long Is., a New
York City suburb, for the grand
Vincy Day USA picnic.
Busloads and carloads of
Vincentian and other Caribbean
nationals made the annual
pilgrimage to feast, drink, ‘ole
talk’, renew acquaintances and
friendships, dance and have just
plain fun at the event described
by organizers as “another epic
year.”
“From all reports from the
patrons in attendance, it was
another great family fun day,”
Raymond O. “Otis” Lewis, the
newly-elected chairman of the
Brooklyn-based Vincy Day USA,
Inc. Committee told Caribbean
Life. “Every year, we try to gauge
our attendance, and it’s proving
more and more difficult by
the sheer number of persons in
attendance and vehicles parked
in the lots.
“This year proved to be another
epic year with it being one of
the biggest crowds we’ve had at
Heckscher State Park,” added
the Brooklyn resident, declining
to estimate the crowd. Many picnic
goers, however, said it was
well over 10,000.
“Everyone I encountered was
very happy and supportive, and
conveyed their best wishes and
support for continued success
and longevity for Vincy Day Family
Fun Day,” continued Lewis,
who said he also spent “quite a
bit of time” with park and law
enforcement officials “to ensure
that we were in good standing
and not facing any issues.
Caribbean L 8 ife, Aug. 23, 2019 BQ
Junior Brewster, at BBQ grill, with friends from Mayreau in the southern St. Vincent Grenadines,
South Rivers, Ceders and Bridgetown. Photo by Nelson A. King
“Their response was nothing
more than glowing reviews
for Vincy Day and the patrons
who attended,” he said. “That, in
itself, is what makes having this
family fun day such a worthwhile
venture. It makes me a
proud Vincentian to hear our
people spoken of with so much
admiration.”
Osborne Browne, a former
vice president of the St. Vincent
and the Grenadines Cricket
Association, and his wife Jacqueline,
a retired senior education
officer at home, make the trip
every year.
The Browne’s hang out with
former Consul General to New
York Cosmus Cozier, his wife
Caroline; and Cozier’s erstwhile
deputy Cyril “Scorcher” Thompson,
also a calypsonian, and Thomas’s
“lady” Arlene DeRoche.
Evangelist Bridget Blucher
performs some of her gospel
hits. Photo by Nelson A. King
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