Remember in November

From the Queens Courier:

We solemnly ask you to take a moment on November 11 and remember those who have given their lives in the current war against terrorism being waged in Iraq and Afghanistan and to say a prayer for every one of them. They died so that we may continue to live free.

As we approach the 91st Veterans Day observance this month, we hope your also remember the one million New Yorkers, men and women who have served in uniform and deserve our thanks, not only on Veterans Day, but on every day.

We hope that you support our politicians as they lobby for -- and win -- better benefits and programs, property tax exemptions, tuition education assistance, job training, employment assistance and counseling.

We call on newly elected Governor Andrew Cuomo to increase funding for veterans' service agencies and help returning citizen-soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan to reclaim homes lost to foreclosures while they were deployed and enact legislation to halt such losses in the future.

We hope that his year, each and every home in Queens displays a flag on Veterans Day.

Quinn wants tickertape parade for Iraq vets

From Fox 5:

New York City has thrown ticker-tape parades along the Canyon of Heroes for the Yankees and Giants in recent years. So what about a parade for some real heroes?

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said she would like the city to honor the thousands of local heroes who have served in Iraq. But the question is when? Even though the military has pulled out big combat brigades from Iraq and President Obam declared major combat operations over, about 50,000 troops remain in harm's way in Iraq until at least the end of 2011.

Speaker Quinn, who did not support the war in Iraq, said a parade would not be about politics -- it would simply be the right thing to do to show appreciation for the sacrifice of so many Americans. She said she and Mayor Michael Bloomberg would work with veterans' groups to make the parade a reality at the appropriate time.