Manhattan College exhibit on veteran service
BY TODD MAISEL
A new gallery opened this week
in the Flatiron Building in Manhattan
showing off artworks
inspired by the stories of veterans who
have both served their country and who
are alumni of Manhattan College.
The Manhattan College Success Center
recognized that being a veteran is
a different experience for everyone –
some people see combat, while others
serve in protective capacities and others
train new soldiers for service around
the world. For that reason, veterans
were interviewed and then, their stories
were sent to artists to create an interpretation
of their experience in paintings
and drawings now on exhibit.
“It tells stories of our confl icts, our
wars, from the ground up, not the top
down, not from the politicians, not
from the generals, but form the men
and women who have served,” Manhattan
College Professor of Religious Studies
Stephen Kaplan.
Kaplan assembled the exhibit with
Professor Lee Fearnside, coming only
two weeks after the Veterans Day parade,
to tell the stories in pictures – to
make veterans a human experience.
Fearnside said they became concerned
that student veterans were
Marvin Alex Sosa, a veteran Marine and president of the Manhattan
College Veterans Association, stand at a painting that depicts the story
of Michael Geraldo of the 82nd Airborne.
becoming isolated and that “the two
groups couldn’t communicate.” She
said two years later, “we have 50 plus
veterans and artists involved I the arts
program from all over the country.”
Michael Geraldo a soldier with the
Army 82nd Airborne, is one of those
alumni student veteran presidents who
took the college up on the offer to participate
PHOTO BY TODD MAISEL
in the art program. His picture
depicts his two tours in Iraq, having
served in Fallujah. It shows him parachuting
into Iraq but also trying to help
the people.
“It really does a great job of telling
my story, and communicating to people
what my story is – it shows us to be human,”
Geraldo said.
The Manhattan College Veterans Association
sponsors study groups and
career resources for veterans; vet-tovet
mentoring program that matches
student veterans with upperclassmen
and alumni veterans; guest speakers,
like former NYPD Commissioner and
Vietnam War veteran Raymond Kelly
’63; stress-relieving yoga and meditation
sessions; Picnics, social events
and group outings. The school has a
vibrant veterans program, dating back
150 years that focuses on assisting veterans
with transition from military life
and giving them skills to work a professional
career.
Marvin Alex Sosa, president of the
Manhattan College Veterans association,
recently marched in the Veterans
Day Parade with Kelly, a former Marine.
“The paintings depict two very different
jobs with different stories to tell,”
Sosa said. “We want to portray a different
image of what a veteran is and
change the stigma of negativity about
veterans that they are angry – the stories
are very different and are positive
experiences to tell people. ”
The exhibit, on Broadway between
East 23rd and 22nd Streets, is open
six days a week at the Flatiron building
through the New Year, and it’s free.
Harlem Light Parade brightens up 125th Street
BY SHAYE WEAVER
The 26th Annual “Harlem Light
It Up,” the city’s only parade of
lights, fl owed down 125th Street
from Morningside Avenue on Thursday
night with performances, 10 colorful
fl oats and costumed characters, from
the Grinch to Santa Claus (and even
Black Panther).
The 125th Street Business Improvement
District has organized the parade
to make it a tradition each year. This
year, it selected three grand marshals
to lead the procession — social activist
and one of the exonerated “Central
Park 5,” Korey Wise, actor and singer
Laiona Michelle, and entrepreneur
Leah Abraham.
Ten fl oats, along with eight slingshot
cars — each sponsored by a Harlem
community organization, local political
leader, business or community board
— made their way down the street that
evening. Throughout the day, children
also had photo opportunities with Disney
Marvel’s superheroes Spider-Man
and Back Panther, and enjoyed face
painting and an appearance by the
Snow Queen. There were free health
and fi tness screenings for all. Manhattan
Borough President Gail Brewer
also hosted her annual VIP reception
at the event.
Dancers at the 125th Street Harlem Lit It Up Parade on Nov. 21.
“Our goal was to make this event a
signature event for New York City —
it’s the only illuminated parade in the
city,” said Barbara Askins, the president
and CEO of the 125th Street BID.
“I think we accomplished it this year.
Harlem has so much talent and resources
and this event is designed to
PHOTO BY DEAN MOSES
allow those who are here and love Harlem
to do what they do best. It’s not just
the vision of one – it’s the vision of the
community.”
4 November 28, 2019 Schneps Media