By Shirley L Ng
This year’s annual Chinatown Veterans Day Parade and ceremony in New York was larger than last year’s parade.
The American Legion Lt. B.R. Kimlau Chinese Memorial Post 1291 held its annual Veterans Day Parade on Sunday. This year it included 80 cadets, Commander Tommy Ong told AsAmNews.
The cadets represented the US Military Academy from West Point, NY; the US Coast Guard Academy from New London, CT; Midshipmen from the US Naval Academy from Annapolis, MD and a member of the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Lt. B.R. Kimlau Chinese Memorial Post 1291 Commander, Tommy Ong was especially proud to have such a large participation from the academies.
“Thank you everyone for coming, especially the young folks from the different academies. It’s a pleasure to see the Asian clubs and Asian representation in the armed forces, because don’t forget we come from an era that we were the only one in the company, the only one in the command, so you guys really impress us and you are the future,” Commander Ong said at the public ceremony.
Judge Advocate of Lt. B.R. Kimlau Chinese Memorial Post 1291, Randall Eng called the ceremony a “somber and joyful celebration for all Americans.”
Eng said, “We honor the men and women that served our great nation of ours. We also pay profound tribute to the men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice to secure the freedom and prosperity of our nations, as we must remember, freedom is not, free.”
Local dignitaries at the parade included District 1 Council Member, Christopher Marte, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) President Raymond Tsang, Community Liaison Fannie Ip from the 65th District Assemblymember Grace Lee’s office, and a representative from the Eng Suey Sun Association and Lee’s Family Association.
View the photo slide show from Sunday’s parade in Chinatown. All photos by Shirley L. Ng are copyrighted.
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