The following is an extended and updated version of the story that appears in our latest print edition.

 

In honor of Veterans’ Day 2022, Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) held the first veterans’ flagging event on Nov. 19, at the Bronx Victory Memorial on Mosholu Parkway in Bedford Park.

 

In attendance, among others, were Karla Cabrera Carrera, Bronx CB7 assistant district manager, Bronx CB7 Veterans Committee chair, Chad Royer, Northwest Bronx Democrats founder and veteran, Anthony Rivieccio, Bedford Mosholu Community Association (BCMA) president and Bronx CB7 parks committee chair, Barbara Stronczer, Guerinos against Graffitti* president, Sirio Guerino, veteran, David Rosas, Jean Hill, former chair and current member of Bronx CB7, and Deputy Inspector Jeremy Scheublin, commanding officer of the 52^nd Precinct.

Addressing those present, Royer said, “Let us use opportunities like this to remember what is happening now. We must not forget that we still have pressing matters pertaining to our veterans. While some of our veterans are doing well, others are without a place to live, without family members, dealing with mental health challenges, dealing with physical limitations and disability, dealing with food insecurity, searching for jobs that pay a living wage, and dealing with the trauma from bad experiences during their time of service.”

 

He added, “The list is long. We need, each of us, to play an active role in helping our friends, family members, and neighbors who have served, while we honor and remember those who have passed on, while having chosen to protect our country.”

Rivieccio, a U.S. navy veteran, said, “It was my honor to advocate for an event three organizations, including mine, have been doing since 1987 when the World War I monument was in decline and full of garbage and graffiti. Thirty-five years later, it is now clean, illuminated, and going to be used for events again, as it was decades ago, before 1987.”

 

He added, “I thank CB7 Veterans Committee, Norwood Against Graffiti, Bedford Mosholu Community Association, and Northwest Bronx Democrats.”

For her part, Hill, who has frequently advocated for the needs of veterans during recurring Bronx CB7 Veterans committee meetings, said, “For all of our vets, I would like to say everyone waves the flag, but we have to take care of our vets. They have post-traumatic stress syndrome. They have homelessness problems, they have a host of issues that seem to get lost in the storm when they come home.”

 

Earlier this year, the board paid special tribute to late board members and veterans, Jeremy Hunter and Carmen Miranda, as reported. Hill added, “Everybody waves while they are serving, but they tend to forget them when they come home, and I have experienced this full circle.”

 

In June, as reported, Dr. Balavankatesh Kanna was appointed as the new executive director of the Bronx Veterans Medical Center, located in Fordham Manor. As also previously reported, concerns had been raised among Bronx veterans regarding the possible closure of the facility, amid news of the closures of other City VA facilities in recent months.

 

Rosas also addressed those gathered, saying, “I’m a veteran, myself, and it’s a real honor to come out here for a World War I event. Last time I really went and honored World War I with veterans, or anything that had to do with World War I was when I was in Europe going to some of the monuments and sites like that, so it’s great to have something like this in The Bronx.” Rosas added, “So, I am really thrilled that we’re going to take action as a community to try to make things better. I am really glad I came out today.”

 

Guerino said he was glad to attend the event, saying, “Unfortunately I am not a vet, but my grandfather fought in World War I, on the Italian side, in Italy. My uncle, Eddie, and my uncle, Tony, my mother’s brother, served in Korea.” He added, “My own son was in Kuwait, and as a family member whose relatives are very patriotic, I serve the community by coming out every day to make up for not serving in the armed forces.” Guerino has previously been honored by BMCA for his service to the local community, as reported.

 

As also reported, Beverly Bowne, U.S. Army Special Forces veteran and resident of St. Patrick’s Home Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, located on Van Cortlandt Park South in Norwood, was also honored on Veterans Day, along with 14 other veteran residents of the home, which is under new management since Nov. 1.

Samuel Davis
Carl Felton
George Idelson
Benjamin Portaro
Buddy Reynolds

You came to fight 80 years ago from the other side of the Atlantic to ensure our shared ideals and faith in democracy would triumph.

France will be eternally grateful. pic.twitter.com/ydmhl3KQzU

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 1, 2022

 

Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., French President Emmanuel Macron, currently on a State visit to the U.S., was seen on Nov. 30, thanking U.S. veteran centenarian, Buddy Reynolds, along with other senior veterans, Samuel Davis, Carl Felton, George Idelson, and Benjamin Portaro, for their service in Europe during World War II. “You came to fight 80 years ago from the other side of the Atlantic to ensure our shared ideals and faith in democracy would triumph,” Macron later wrote on Twitter. “France will be eternally grateful.”

Back in Bedford Park, community member and Norwood News photographer and reporter, Miriam Quinones, suggested that perhaps a parade on the parkway for veterans could be held next year. Rivieccio suggested this could perhaps take place May to coincide with Memorial Day and because the weather would be warmer.

 

Veterans committee chair, Chad Royer, agreed and said he would look into it and find out who to contact for approval and to get help organizing it. As reported, Royer recently ran for the role of Bronx Community Board 7 chair, following the resignation over the summer of the former chair, Emmanuel Martinez, who had been elected chair in June 2019. Board secretary, Yajaira Arias, was ultimately elected as the new chair of Bronx CB7 during the board’s November general meeting. As reported, the position of secretary is currently open therefore. 

A list of the Bronx CB7 December meetings is attached. The general board meeting will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 13, while the annual, holiday, tree-lighting event will take place on Mosholu Parkway on Thursday, Dec. 8, and Friends of Mosholu Parkland will hold a Winterfest also on Mosholu Parkway and Bainbridge Avenue on the same date at 5 p.m.

 

Guerino concluded his address at the Bronx Victory Memorial event, saying, “I want to thank everybody for being here and I want to thank God I live in America. God bless everyone.”

 

 

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story referred to Chad Royer as a veteran, in addition to his role as chair of the Bronx CB7 Veterans’ committee. This was incorrect and our mistake. We apologize sincerely for this error.