State Budget Cuts Threaten the Future of Brooklyn’s Oldest Parade

It has been a tough stretch of road for Brooklyn’s longestrunning parade.

For 143 years, the Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade has honoredthose who gave their lives to serve in the line of duty, the past19 years in Bay Ridge. But the future of this neighborhoodtradition – scheduled to take place, this year, on May 30 — hangsin the balance.

Government funding, long the financial bedrock of the nation’soldest Memorial Day parade, has all but dried up, leadingorganizers to wonder if their event is in jeopardy.

The federal government made cuts, said parade Chairperson,Prisco DeAngelis. The state government made cuts. The citygovernment made cuts because they didn’t get funding from thestate. It makes it tough!

According to DeAngelis, parade costs range from $18,000 to$20,000. Currently, organizers are expecting roughly $10,000 lessin government allocations than last year.

Regular sources of funding have been unable to provide what theyhave in the past. For example, in previous years, State SenatorMarty Golden was able to secure a $7,000 grant. This year, thatgrant did not materialize, but Golden’s Deputy Chief of Staff, JohnQuaglione, says Golden did not have a choice because then-GovernorDavid Paterson banned this type of donation during last summer’sbudget cuts, and next year’s budget, approved last Thursday,extended the ban.

However, in an effort to support the organizers’ efforts topreserve the nation’s oldest Memorial Day parade, Golden haspartnered with Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis andBrooklyn-Congressmember Michael Grimm to offer a $2,500donation.

In addition, there is $1,000 in funding in the pipeline fromCouncilmember Vincent Gentile, and Assemblymember Alec Brook-Krasnyhas also committed to coming up with some funding for the event,though how much is not yet known.

At this point, the parade is about $12,000 short, according toDeAngelis.

Some of the shortfall is being made up by big-hearted arearesidents. Local activist Frankie Marra has contributed $1,000 tothe parade, and is collecting donations from other concernedresidents, delivering $1,500 in donations to the parade organizerson Monday. Marra, a musician, has also planned a benefit event forMay 1, from 2 to 9 p.m., at a still-to-be-determined location.

In addition, on April 21, at 7 p.m., the Bay Ridge Democratswill co-sponsor a fundraiser to help save the parade at the LongbowPub & Pantry, 7316 Third Avenue.

On March 30, Gentile’s office helped activate a PayPal accounton the parade committee’s website to make private contributionseasier for those hoping to donate online.

I believe they’re going to get a good and positive response,Gentile said. This is everyone’s parade! It’s part of New YorkCity.

Many marchers are motivated by a commitment to honoring ournation’s fallen heroes.

I march every year so we can honor the people who paid theultimate price to protect our freedom-those who died, from all ofour wars, said Ray Aalbue, a Vietnam veteran and vice chairpersonof the Kings County United War Veterans.

DeAngelis, who earned a Purple Heart for his bravery in theKorean War, has three main hopes for the parade. In addition topreserving the event’s future through donations and enablingcitizens to pay tribute, he hopes his organization will bring moreveterans out on that last Monday in May.

We want more veterans to get out there and march and we wantpeople to know they should be out there with us remembering thesoldiers that have passed on, DeAngelis said. They gave theirlives to defend the freedom of this country and we owe them.