Car Convoys to Substitute Parades in NYC in Honor of Memorial Day

To celebrate Memorial Day, NYC is honoring the fallen military members with car convoys and small ceremonies due to the coronavirus restrictions.

 “It’s something we’re upset about, but we understand,” said Raymond Aalbue, chairman of the United Military Veterans of Kings County, which typically arranges a parade in Brooklyn.

There’s “no reason to put anybody in harm’s way,” he said. Still, “it’s really cutting quick to the heart of all the veterans.”

He will arrange for a convoy of 10 cars to drive from Bay Ridge, where the parade usually begins, ant they will ride until the Brooklyn Veterans Affairs Hospital.  At that point this will line up, salute and then celebrate a wreath-laying ceremony.

“In Queens, the group behind the Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade will have a few people at the site where they normally end their parade”, said executive director Victor Mimoni.

The event will be a far cry from the usual crowds that attend the events.  One person will lay a wreath, another will do a flag ceremony and some others will watch.

But “we felt the need to do something,” Mimoni said.

Another convoy of vehicles, with motorcycles leading, will drive off in Staten Island after a wreath laying celebration n Hero Park.

In Manhattan, a small ceremony will take place at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum featuring a ceremonial wreath-laying on Monday afternoon.

Photo by: Kevin P. Coughlin / Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo