United Veterans of Hicksville New York Host Memorial Day Parade and Ceremonies
– American Legion – Jewish War Veterans – Masonic War Veterans –
– Veterans of Foreign Wars –
2008 Lead Organization is the Jewish War Veterans of the USA
Gieir-Levitt Post 655
The Jewish War Veterans Gieir-Levitt Post 655 is the host of this year’s United Veterans Memorial Day Parade and Ceremonies, which will take place in Hicksville, New York on Monday, May 26, 2008.
The parade assembly will take place, beginning at 8:00 am, at the Sear’s south parking area on Broadway, Hicksville. The parade will step off at 9:00 am sharp and end up at the Hicksville Middle School on Jerusalem Avenue and Fourth Street. The ceremonies will begin after the conclusion of the parade (approximately 10:30 am).
After the ceremonies, you are cordially invited to a collation, where refreshments will be served, at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall at 320 South Broadway, Hicksville.
All participants in the parade will have their organization’s name in the printed program. That is if they get all information in on time. Everything takes time.
Pardon the pun but I had to catch your attention somehow.
We only have 4 weeks until the Hicksville Community Golf Outing. PLEASE- - - - we need your help. If you or you and a neighbor could get together and get 75 pieces of something for us to put in the Golfers “Thank You” or “Goodie Bags” it would be greatly appreciated by both the golfers and the community groups that are participating. It shows that the players who play for the day and give up large purse games do so because the monies that this game raises goes into the Hicksville Community for Hicksville people. This is Hicksville trying to help its own. Residents and business people can get together on this if they care to. They can also do it solo: Civic Assn’s, children’s’ groups, school and club organizations, etc. Into this bag would go some of the suggested items, with or without your names imprinted on the items.
You can hear one player telling the next one what they received this year. The players just cannot wait to unpack their bags. “Hey guys, this year we got so and so’s.”
Remember - 75 of each, whatever you decide to get, “Pads of paper, pens or a couple of pencils, letter openers, a box of paper clips taped shut, soda can insulators (koozies) with or without the juice can, store/restaurant gift certificates, balls (sleeves of three), Tee pegs, memo cubes of note paper, bottles water, small bags chips, packages of candy (not chocolate). There are so many items that you can get. Go to any $1 Store where you can find items for 10 - 20 cents in quantity. Show these players that we appreciate their help for our community.
I had asked permission to print the following information from Mr. Ahmed who was one of our guests for our April meeting. He was pleased to say yes and faxed it right off to me. (I hope I get the spelling right). Mr. Ahmed is President of the Islamic Center of Long island in Westbury and he is the Commissioner for Nassau County Human Rights Commission.
Good Afternoon,
Assalamu alaykum. (Peace be unto you.)
It is an honor to be here with you this afternoon. A lot of Muslim businesses have opened up in Hicksville, especially on Broadway. Just a few facts about the religion of Islam before I recite a prayer, Islam is one of the three monotheistic religions, the other two being Christianity and Judaism. As a Muslini, I must believe in all divine books: Psalms of David, Old Testament, New Testament and the Final Testament, al-Quran. Also a Muslim needs to believe in all the prophets, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Solomon, David, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Jesus, and finally, Muhammad, may peace be upon them all.
Muslim prayer for peace
In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Praise be to the Lord of the Universe who has created us and made us into tribes and nations so that we may know each other, not that we may despise each other. And the servants of God, most Gracious, are those that walk on the earth in humility and when we address them we say “Peace.”
The most frequently recited prayer from the Quran by Muslims all over the world is as follows:
“Rabbana ateena fidunya hasanatan wa fil akhirati hasanatan wa qina azaban nar.”
Translation: “Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the fire.” (2:201)
In addition to the prayer I have just recited, I would like to add a very short peace prayer that is recited by Muslims all of the time. It is not from the Quran, but from the tradition of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.
“Astaghfirullah - allahumma antas - salaamu wa minkas salaamu,
tabarakta yaa zal - jalaali wal ikram.”
Translation: I seek the forgiveness of God Almighty. God, you are peace and from you comes peace. Blessed are you, O owner of majesty and honor. Amen.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR
VIETNAM WALL EXPERIENCE™ WEEKEND
The Town of Oyster Bay, in conjunction with Dignity Memorial®, will bringing the Vietnam Wall Experience™ to the Sears parking lot in Hicksville, New York, on the weekend of Friday, June 6th through Sunday, June 8 th, 2008, according to Town Supervisor John Venditto.
“The Vietnam Wall Experience™ is a three-quarter scale, travelling replica of the actual memorial in our nation’s capitol,” Supervisor Venditto said. “The wall is made of faux-granite, stands eight feet in height and, like the actual memorial, has the names of 58,000 Americans who died or are missing in Vietnam inscribed on its black, mirror-like surface. The exhibit, which will be open around the clock and lighted for the entire weekend, will afford local residents the unique opportunity to remember, reflect and heal in a manner and time best suited for the individual. Perhaps most importantly, it will provide a service to those who might never travel of the nation’s capital to experience the Vietnam Wall firsthand.” This year marks the 33rd anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.
Supervisor Venditto said bringing the Vietnam Wall Experience™ to Oyster Bay, one stop of a 2008 nationwide tour, is a massive undertaking requiring many volunteers and donations from generous individuals and businesses. Carpenters Union Local 7 has generously agreed to completely handle the logistics associated with the set-up, breakdown and clean-up of the exhibit. However, there are still many other important jobs to be handled, including volunteers who can provide information and direction to the thousands of visitors expected. “Since the exhibit is open for 24 hours, three straight days, we will require the assistance of as many hands as possible,” explained Supervisor Venditto.
Anyone wishing to assist in any way can contact the Town of Oyster Bay’s Department of Community and Youth Services-Division of Veteran Services at 516-797-7900.
“I believe the Vietnam Wall Experience™ will be not only an opportunity for reflection and appreciation, but a valuable learning venue for our children, who know little about the Vietnam War,” Supervisor Venditto said. “There will be plenty of parking available, and admission will be free. I hope to see many of our Town residents. Our veterans, particularly those who served in Vietnam, deserve a large showing of local residents who appreciate the sacrifices they’ve made to keep America the ‘Land of the Free’.”
Supervisor Venditto noted that the “Wall” is owned by Dignity Memorial® Funeral Providers and is coordinated by Vernon C. Wagner Funeral Homes. The Supervisor is also asking any Motorcycle Club to sign up for an escort of the “Wall” on June 3. We are looking for over 500 riders this time. Anyone interested in riding that day can call the VFW in Hicksville at 931-7843 and ask for Tim Glover or Dan Rysanek at 516-578-1079 for details and information.
