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Whitestone tradition marched on after funding troubles
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WBY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI SMONTEVERDI@QNS.COM / @SMONT76 hen Jay Vigorito and Nick Gagliano heard a
near-century-old Whitestone tra-dition was
in danger of vanishing, they stepped up to
the plate. But it will take a village to keep the tradition alive.
In recent weeks, Vigorito, past presi-dent of local sports
organization Dwarf Giraff e, learned Whitestone Memorial
Day Parade organizers were facing an imminent
funding shortage. Th e 2019 parade was hanging in the
balance.
Shortly thereaft er, Vigorito approached fellow Dwarf
Giraff e board members with an idea: the organization
would donate the $10,000 necessary to fund next year’s
event.
“Th e veterans have been having trouble over the last
few years with donations,” Vigorito said. “Providing this
funding should give the town and the communi-ty here,
hopefully, two years to get their donations back moving
again to keep the parade going.”
Nick Gagliano, current president of Dwarf Giraff e, offi
cially announced the funding commitment at the Whitestone
Veterans Memorial Association’s dinner dance on
May 19.
“Every year, there’s always a story that we might not
have a parade: there’s not enough funding, this and that.
We couldn’t let that happen,” Gagliano said.
The announcement left the Whitestone Veterans Memorial
Association “fl oored,” according to Mike Seeley, a
member of the American Legion.
“We really applaud the Dwarf Giraff e organization for
stepping up and help-ing to keep the parade in Whitestone,”
he said. “It’s gratifying that we have an orga-nization
in the neighborhood that appre-ciates the parade
and what it takes to put it on.”
Th e parade traditionally begins at 149th Street and
15th Drive with a memori-al service and makes its way
through Whitestone Village. World War II, Korean War
and Vietnam War veter-ans march alongside a host of
commu-nity groups, including the Girl and Boy Scouts,
Greater Whitestone Taxpayers Association and local
sports organiza-tions. A number of elected offi cials also
attend and march with constituents.
Th e annual event usually draws over 1,000 people.
Historically, the event is sponsored by the Jewish War
Veterans Post 415, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4787,
American Legion Post 131, according to Seeley. Each
group has seen dwindling membership in recent years.
“Every year it gets a little less, a little less,” he said. “Plus,
families now have to have two earners and there’s really
not time for men and women to get out and volunteer.”
Planning for the parade begins in January, Seeley said.
During this time, organizers are hard at work fundrais
ing, booking bands, inviting local politi-cians and
groups and organizing the line of march.
While plans for next year’s parade are in motion, the
long term future of the parade still hangs in the balance.
Dwarf Giraff e will lead a number of fundrais-ing eff orts
in the coming months to help raise money. Th e Whitestone
Veterans Memorial Association will also seek assis
tance from local organizations and businesses to keep
the tradition alive.
Donations to the parade can be sent to the American
Legion at 10-20 Clintonville St., with checks made out to
the Whitestone Veterans Memorial Association. An online
portal is in the works.
“Memorial Day is not just a barbe-cue. Th at’s what
people have got to real-ize,” Vigorito said. “Th ere’s a reason
for it. Th is parade reminds everyone what an important
day it is.”
Vigorito, Gagliano and Seeley (l-r) at the Dwarf Giraff e
gym in Whitestone
Photo by Suzanne Monteverdi/QNS
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