On Sunday, May 15, the Norwegian-American 17th of May Committee of Greater New York will hold its 64th annual parade, starting at 80th Street and Third Avenue and ending in Leif Ericson Park, at 67th Street and Sixth Avenue. The celebratory parade commemorating the 202nd anniversary of the signing of Norway’s constitution will kick off at 1:30 p.m.
One of the highlights of the colorful parade is always the presence of Miss Norway of Greater New York riding along the parade route in an open convertible. This year’s no exception with the lovely Lene Samuelsen, the 61st young lady to wear the crown.
In the early years of the parade, Brooklyn had the largest concentration of Norwegians in the nation!
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The United Military Veterans of Kings County held its annual Patriotism Award ceremonies and reception in the rotunda at Brooklyn Borough Hall. The 2016 honorees were Lieutenant Colonel Lee Anderson, USA (Ret.), Thomas Trombone and Stephen Neftleberg.
Anderson, an Army Vietnam veteran, has also served as deputy commander of the U.S. Army Garrison at Fort Hamilton, and recently retired as founder and chief instructor of the Army Junior ROTC program at Fort Hamilton High School.
Trombone is an Army veteran who has served in Korea and an American Legion post commander, and more recently serves as the chief of volunteers at the New York Harbor Defense Museum where his volunteer duties include being a docent and tour guide.
Neftleberg is an Air Force veteran, VFW service officer and a longtime volunteer at the Brooklyn VA Hospital.
Among the guest speakers for the occasion were Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and State Senator Marty Golden. Ray Aalbue, chair of the Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade, emceed the program and presented the awards.
Colonel Joseph Davidson and State Senator Marty Golden greet and congratulate the 2016 Patriotism Award recipients at ceremonies held in the Rotunda at Borough Hall.
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Hundreds of Brooklynites took the opportunity to visit the open house held at Borough Hall by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams this past Saturday evening. If my research is correct, this is the first time in modern times that a borough’s chief executive had visitors inspect just about every nook and corner of the venerable building that early served as City Hall when Brooklyn was an independent city, the third largest in the country.
His entire staff and an army of volunteers were on site for the event, greeting and guiding visitors throughout the building. The BP stood just outside the main entrance to Borough Hall as he personally greeted fellow Brooklynites queuing up on long lines to enter the building and his inner sanctum.
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