Joan D'Amico, Court Street Merchant's Association
Vince Mazzone of Court Street Merchants Association
Councilman Brad Lander
State Senator Daniel Squadron with his son
Patrick Watson sings the national anthem
Rev. Msgr. Guy Massie from Sacret Hearts/ St. Stephen Church on Summit Street.
This year's Honoree William "Bill" Harris with Joan d'Amico
William Harris with his wife and son.
It is truly wonderful to see how this event has become an important tradition in the past few years.
It is great to see more and more people in the neighborhood taking time to honor our veterans. And it was nice to see so many kids.
This year's honoree was William Harris. Joan d'Amico of the Court Street Merchants Association read his biography:
William "Bill" Harris was born in 1918 in Glasgow, Scotland. At the age of five, his parents and he immigrated to America and settled in Brooklyn on Bergan Street near Smith Street.
In 1940, Bill was drafted into the Army for what was at the time a one year tour-of-duty. While assigned to an artillery unit as a radio operator, he seized the opportunity to go to Aviation Cadet School which would qualify him to be either a navigator, bombardier, or pilot.
Upon completing the course and having now spent two years in the Army, Bill was selected for flight training. In 1943, Lieutenant Harris earned his wings as a pilot in the Army Air Corps and for the next two years was stationed in Italy, flying throughout the Mediterranean, transporting wounded soldiers , military supplies, military personnel and on occasion, civilian personnel performing in USO shows. Most notably - - - Bob Hope.
Bill was discharged from active duty in 1945 as a Captain and continued his military career for the next thirty years in the Air Force Reserves until his retirement in 1975 as Major, and to this day, he remains an active member of the American Legion.
The event is organized by Court Street Merchants Association with the help of Friends Of Carroll Park.
William "Bill" Harris was born in 1918 in Glasgow, Scotland. At the age of five, his parents and he immigrated to America and settled in Brooklyn on Bergan Street near Smith Street.
In 1940, Bill was drafted into the Army for what was at the time a one year tour-of-duty. While assigned to an artillery unit as a radio operator, he seized the opportunity to go to Aviation Cadet School which would qualify him to be either a navigator, bombardier, or pilot.
Upon completing the course and having now spent two years in the Army, Bill was selected for flight training. In 1943, Lieutenant Harris earned his wings as a pilot in the Army Air Corps and for the next two years was stationed in Italy, flying throughout the Mediterranean, transporting wounded soldiers , military supplies, military personnel and on occasion, civilian personnel performing in USO shows. Most notably - - - Bob Hope.
Bill was discharged from active duty in 1945 as a Captain and continued his military career for the next thirty years in the Air Force Reserves until his retirement in 1975 as Major, and to this day, he remains an active member of the American Legion.
The event is organized by Court Street Merchants Association with the help of Friends Of Carroll Park.
So the monument gets a day off from the kids drawing chalk all over it? Very nice.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see that this event is growing stronger every year. Sorry I missed it. Kathleen
ReplyDeleteand the chalk is back of this morning. pay your respects parents and kids....
ReplyDelete