Peace Plaza Memorial Day 2021 Ceremony

 

Peace Plaza Memorial Day 2021 Ceremony

By Robert Press

It was the first time the Peace Plaza Memorial Day Ceremony did not have Veteran Silvio Mazzella emcee the event. Silvio was in a hospital bed, and unable to make the event, but as you see above in front are Silvio's wife, son, and grandchildren, with longtime friend Al D'Angelo, Councilman Mark Gjonaj, and Veteran's Joseph Rondo and Gene de Francis. Almost one-hundred people were in attendance.

Grace Lovac sang a beautiful National Anthem, and Father Knapp gave the blessing. Joseph Rondo opened the event with an explanation as to why he and Gene de Francis were doing the ceremony instead of Silvio Mazzella. He introduced the elected officials Councilman Mark Gjonaj, Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, and Councilman Fernando Cabrera who all spoke about what Memorial Day means to them. Councilman Gjonaj said that while the ceremony was going fine, that he missed the way Silvio would run the show. Assemblywoman Fernandez spoke of her brother who had returned from a year's deployment overseas. Councilman Cabrera said that Freedom is not free, because lives must be lost to get that freedom. 

Gene de Francis the Commander of the Korney Post in Throggs Neck then read a letter from Silvio Mazzella which asked the people in attendance to keep this ceremony going with its new hosts Joseph Ronda and Gene de Francis. He then said the next event at Peace Plaza would be on Veteran's Day November 11th.

Councilman Mark Gjonaj tells what it is to have a Memorial Day ceremony without the man who began the Peace Plaza Veteran remembrances, Silvio Mazzella who was in a hospital bed. 

Councilman Fernando Cabrera wishes every soldier would come back as they left to go fight overseas with veterans Joseph Ronda and Gene de Francis standing next to him.

Wreaths are laid for the fallen soldiers of the various wars.

The bugler plays Taps as the wreaths are put on the ceremonial headstones.

Gene de Francis reads the letter from Silvio Mazzella, and then reminds everyone that the next event at peace plaza will be the Veteran's Day remembrance on November 11th.