Nation's Largest Memorial Day Parade Will March In Queens For 90th Time

DOUGLASTON, QUEENS — A Memorial Day parade that organizers say is the largest in the country will march through Douglaston for the 90th time this year.

The Little Neck-Douglaston parade will kick off on Monday at Jayson Avenue and Northern Boulevard at 2 p.m. The 70th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force will be celebrated with a performance by the USAF Blue Aces in Douglaston's Divine Wisdom Academy schoolyard while Susan Seinfeld, the district manager of Community Board 11 will be named Woman of the Year at the event.

The Man of the Year award will go to Assemblyman Edward Braunstein.

Self-described "Queens kid" John Ottulich, who has worked in the scaffolding industry for 35 years, will receive the Community Service Award. Ottulich has been involved in organizations such as the Bayside Historical Society, Queens Museum, Queens Chamber of Commerce, Douglaston Civic Association and Queens Public Library Trustees.

Terrance Holliday, a retiree of the U.S. AirForce, will serve as the Grand Marshall for the parade. Holliday served as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Veterans’ Affairs and later served the de Blasio administration until 2014.

Brigadier General Edward W. Thomas, Jr., Director of Public Affairs at the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, will serve as the Honorary Grand Marshall. "He provides guidance and support for nearly 4,500 active duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen and civilians in their mission to broadcast internal Air Force information, conduct community and media relations, manage integrated marketing and execute security review programs," reads his bio.

WWII veterans Jack Stollak, Jeannette Rosen, Bernard Rader and Joe Reveman will serve as parade marshals.

Lead image via Pamela V. White/Flickr