FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com JANUARY 1, 2015 • THE COURIER SUN 3 PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF LIAO FUNERAL FOR FALLEN NYPD OFFICER HELD IN GLENDALE AS THE WORLD WATCHED BY SALVATORE LICATA slicata@queenscourier.com @sal_licata1 The eyes of the nation were on Glendale last weekend as its streets were lined with more than 20,000 police officers in uniform for the wake and funeral of slain police officer Rafael Ramos, who was gunned down with his partner while on duty in Brooklyn on Dec. 20. The funeral was attended by Vice President Joe Biden, along with virtually every city, state and federal official from New York, including Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio — raising security levels and forcing police to shut down streets and limit parking throughout the normally quiet community. PO Rafael Ramos and his partner, Officer Wenjian Liu, were murdered by a deranged gunman while they were sitting in their patrol car on a Bedford- Stuyvesant Street. The gunman, who committed suicide after shooting both cops, had indicated he was going to kill police officers. Ramos’ wake and funeral were held in Christ Tabernacle Church, located at 64-34 Myrtle Ave., on Dec. 26 and 27 respectively. Over 20,000 police officers made their way to the church along with law enforcement and elected officials from around the country. Biden delivered a stirring, 14-minute eulogy in remembrance of Ramos. “It is only when a tragedy like this occurs when all of their friends, neighbors and people who didn’t even know them become aware of and reminded of the sacrifices they make every single, solitary day to make our lives better,” Biden said. “Police officers are a different breed. Thank God for them, thank God for them.” The day wasn’t without its controversy, when ranks of NYPD cops in uniform turned their backs toward the mayor as he spoke. The PBA and some of the rank and file from the NYPD are angry with de Blasio because they feel that he has sided with protesters more than with cops. The city has been hit with daily protests since a Staten Island grand jury declined to bring charges against an NYPD cop in the death of Eric Garner. Since the shootings, supporters of the police have emerged en masse. Along Myrtle Avenue, joining the cops were residents of Glendale who came together to also show their support for the NYPD. The day before the wake, local residents tied blue ribbons to trees, utility poles and fences around the neighborhood. “The sea of blue ribbons made my heart sing,” wrote one person on the Glendale Civic Association’s Facebook page. Furthermore, the community hung a banner on Myrtle that read, “The Glendale Community Supports the 84 Precinct, the NYPD, and all Law Enforcement Officers. PO RAFAEL L. RAMOS PO WENJIAN LIU.” “The tens of thousands of police officers who came to our district in Glendale to mourn hero NYPD Officer Rafael Ramos was overwhelming,” said U.S. Rep Grace Meng. “This giant sea of blue in our community will never be forgotten nor will Officer Ramos and his family. They will remain in our hearts and prayers forever.” Photo by Dominick Totino Photography HOWARD BEACH AND HAMILTON BEACH RESIDENTS ARE SHOWING SUPPORT FOR NYPD BY SALVATORE LICATA slicata@queenscourier.com/@sal_licata1 Support for the NYPD is on display in Howard Beach and Hamilton Beach as residents came together to hang blue ribbons throughout neighborhood this week in support of the police. Community members tied the ribbons on utility poles, lamp posts and even their own houses throughout the neighborhood. The idea came from Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder, who reached out to civic leaders in Hamilton and Howard Beach to put the event together. “We want to send a very clear message that we support the NYPD as they are the men and women who are out there protecting us,” Goldfeder said. “Since we publicized the event, my phone has not stopped ringing with people wanting to know how they can help out.” In Hamilton Beach, the civic groups and residents started hanging the ribbons around 11 a.m. and in Howard Beach they started around 3 p.m. Cross Bay Boulevard was a main target of the Howard Beach Linden Civic Association, as was 104th Street for the Hamilton Beach Civic Association. The material for the blue ribbons was donated by The Denali Company, located in New Jersey. Goldfeder contacted the wholesale ribbon seller about his idea, and they gladly donated about 200 yards of ribbon. “We’ve had an overwhelming response of support from our neighbors,” said Joanne Ariola, president of the Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic Association. “We wanted to show that we support the NYPD.” The outcry of support for the Police Department comes after the horrible tragedy that unfolded on a Brooklyn street on Dec. 20 when two officers were shot and killed by a deranged man who was targeting police. Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were slain in their patrol car on a Bedford-Stuyvesant street. A wake and funeral for Ramos were held in Glendale over the weekend, and candelight vigils have been organized across the city in memory of officers. On Dec. 30, one of the biggest candlelight vigils was held in Flushing when eight precincts came together with the community in the 107th Precinct. The week before, vigils were held in Long Island City, Jackson Heights, Whitestone and other areas where police and residents came together to memorialize the two dead cops. A memorial fund was started last week in the honor of the fallen officers by the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers foundation to fully pay off the mortgages of the officers’ homes. Their goal is $800,000 and as of Dec. 29 they have raised over $300,000 in their effort. “The response has been nothing less than incredible,” said John Hodge, chief of operations for the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. “We’ve gotten donations not only from the New York area but all over the country and outside the country. In many ways it reminds of us of the spirit of wanting to lift people up and unify them that existed after the September 11 attacks.” Photo courtesy of Joanne Ariola Community members and Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder hang blue ribbons in Howard Beach.
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