BY THEODORE W. GENERAL
The Society of Old Brooklynites which was founded in 1880 when Brooklyn was an independent city and the third largest in the nation will hold their 105th annual Memorial Tribute to Prison Ship Martyrs, on Saturday, August 24, at 10 a.m., at the top of the hill in Fort Greene Park.
Over 13,000 American patriots were held captive as POWs on decrepit former British sailing vessels that were stripped of their masts and turned into floating dungeon-like barges and anchored in Wallabout Bay, site of today’s Brooklyn Navy Yard.
As part of the 237th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn (aka Battle of Long Island), the society will conduct a ceremonial program at the base of the 149-foot-tall Prison Ship Martyrs Monument.
Under the towering monument is a crypt where the actual remains of 11,500 POWs were entombed, making it the largest burial ground from the American Revolution. Keynote speaker will be Ron Schweiger, official Brooklyn Borough historian and the new president of the Society of Old Brooklynites.
The programs which will also a maritime piping ceremony, an interpretative dance by an ensemble from the Young Dancers in Repertory and a performance by the Martha Cardona Opera Company will be emceed by Bay Ridgeite and Sunset Park business executive Michael Spinner.
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Among the community groups patrolling and providing standby emergency support for the 68th Precinct’s National Night Out program in Shore Road Park at 79th Street were BRAVO Ambulance Corps, the 68th Precinct Auxiliary Police and CERT1NYC (which also took part at the 62nd Precinct).
In addition to current precinct council President Ilene Sacco, on hand were three former precinct council Presidents Frank Grassi, Anthony Formica and Francis Proscia.
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Trinity Lutheran Church, at 411 46th Street, in Sunset Park, will be the site of a debate between incumbent Democratic Councilmember Sara Gonzalez and Carlos Menchaca, her Democratic opponent, on Tuesday, August 20, at 6:30 p.m.
Mike Conklin’s L Magazine, based in DUMBO, heralds Sal Albanese as the best mayoral candidate. He also heaps praise on Bay Ridgeite Justin Brannan, as “best animal rights and all around decent political sort.” The piece also describes Brannan as a punk rocker. vegetarian and animal rights activist. Brannan is one of Councilmember Vincent Gentile‘s top staffers.
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I’ve just been advised that the new Met Fresh Supermarket at 96th Street and Third Avenue has rescheduled its opening date to Friday, August 16.
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State Senator Marty Golden stopped by the barbecue sponsored by the Amity Post of American Legion. While there, he was greeted by Korean War Veteran Gilbert Acevedo. Acevedo told us he joined the Army when he was only 16, and was later was promoted to sergeant. Apparently, as a result of a fire, he lost his service records and discharge papers. Golden’s office worked with him to secure the papers he needed and the medals he had earned.
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Among the highlights for us at this past Friday evening’s Summer Stroll were the performances by the cast of the new production of “Les Miserables.” The award-winning Broadway musical is being produced by Jeff Samaha, Karen Tadross and theRidge Chorale, next month in the school auditorium of the High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology (formerly Bay Ridge High School), 350 67th Street.
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