Back on October 12, 2000, the U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer USS Cole was in the port of Aden, Yemen when suicide bombers in a small boat loaded with explosives crashed into the Cole, killing 17 sailors and wounding 39 others.
On May 21, between approximately 9 and 10 a.m., this same warship — now fully rebuilt — will be joining the parade of ships as it steams under the Verrazano Bridge and into New York Harbor and receives a cannon salute from the Fort Hamilton Army garrison.If you get a chance to visit the Cole when she is moored at the Sullivans Pier in Staten Island during Fleet Week, walk through one of the large passageways near the mess area (where the sailors dine); there, you will see 17 gold stars on the deck (floor) memorializing the sailors that died during that horrendous attack. * * *The month of May is dedicated to older Americans and this years theme is Safety Today – Healthy Tomorrow. In helping to commemorate the month-long celebration, Lutheran Medical Centers Services for Older Adults held its eighth annual breakfast program in the grand ballroom of the Bay Ridge Manor.Giving welcome remarks and emceeing the event was Sister
Fran PiconeBill de Blasios new Commissioner of the Department for the Aging, Dr.
Donna CorradoJeffrey FarkasDuring his remarks he mentioned he would prefer more widespread use of the term, brain attack, rather than simply a stroke.During the course of the morning, Picone — owing in part to her retirement in June as well as to her eight years of dedicated service — was surprised to be presented with a plaque and bouquet of flowers by LMCs Senior Vice President for Community-Based Programs
Kathy Hopkins. * * *First Sergeant
J.D. LewisCharles Wu * * *Former Bay Ridge Historical Society President
Peter Scarpa conducted a walking tour of lower Manhattan which included visits to the Federal Hall Museum, the NYPD Museum, Trinity Church and the Museum of the American Indian.Among the historic artifacts inside Federal Hall is the Bible that George Washington used when he was sworn in as our nations first president. At Trinity Church, Scarpas tour party visited the churchyard where members saw the graves of Alexander Hamilton and Robert Fulton and a huge monument to the soldiers lost during American Revolution. The tour concluded with a ferryboat ride to and from Staten Island.
