Casey Rios still has flashbacks from when he served near Saigon, in Vietnam, between 1967 and 1969. Sometimes he will be driving and he will suddenly start thinking about the many dead bodies he saw while serving as a gunner. “I stopped watching war movies. They bring back a lot of memories,” Rios, 65, said.Yet, on Thursday, May 22, Rios joined about two dozen people at the Woodhaven Monument, at Jackson Avenue and Forest Parkway, to pay homage to the country’s troops. Rios joins his neighborhood celebration every year. “I enjoy doing this,” he said.
Other Vietnam and World War II veterans from Woodhaven also came to the commemoration and listened to local politicians.“It is so important that we acknowledge those who have given the ultimate sacrifice,” said Councilmember Joseph Addabbo. “The ground we stand on right now was protected by the veterans of today.”
“This weekend . . . please say a prayer, put up a flag, light a candle. Some people’s children are still overseas,” urged Anthony Como, from the office of State Senator Serphin Maltese.
Maria Thomson, Executive Director of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation, organized the service. She’s been doing so since 1981, partly because she has two brothers and a brother-in-law who are veterans. “It’s like having history in the family. But they don’t talk too much about it. It’s very emotional,” Thomson explained.
