OUR 2024 PARADE HONOREES
GRAND MARSHAL
Major James W. McBride,
USMC Aviation Assistant for Officer Procurement, 1st Marine Corps District
Major McBride was born in East Meadow, NY and raised in Little Neck, NY. He commissioned as a Second Lieutenant from the NROTC program in May 2006 after earning a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Boston University. After graduation, he completed The Basic School in 2007. Maj McBride reported for primary flight training at NAS Pensacola, FL and was winged a Naval Aviator on 10 December 2009.
Maj McBride reported to HMLA/T-303 in January 2009, where he completed the UH-1N helicopter training syllabus before reporting to MCAS New River in May 2010. Once in North Carolina, he was assigned to HMLA-269. Maj McBride then “chopped” to VMM-261(REIN) in September 2011. He deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as the H-1 Flight Line and Avionics Officer in Charge. Following his return from deployment, Maj McBride completed the series conversion to the UH-1Y helicopter. Due to a shortage of qualified UH-1Y pilots, Maj McBride transferred to HMLA-467 to support the unit’s deployment to Afghanistan as the Quality Assurance Officer. Returning in October 2014, he rejoined HMLA-269. Overtime, Maj McBride served as the NATOPS officer, S-5 Officer, Quality Assurance Officer and Assistant Operations Officer. He flew over 1400 hours on multiple platforms with 249 hours under combat conditions. Maj McBride earned the qualifications of Section Lead, Weapons Training Officer, Functional Check Pilot, and served on the Instrument Flight Board.
Maj McBride transferred to 2d Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO) in May 2015 where he served as the Company Air Officer and 2d Brigade Platoon Commander to work with our Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental, and Multinational partners. In 2015, he completed the Weapons Tactics Instructor course with the Air Officer Division at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One. In 2016, Maj McBride represented ANGLICO at the Force 2025 conference in Quantico, VA and subsequently attended the Intermediate MAGTF Information Operations Practitioner course and Advanced Information Operations course at Expeditionary Warfare Training Group – Atlantic. Maj McBride transferred to 6th ANGLICO to serve as the Assistant Inspector-Instructor in June 2017, where he worked closely with Marine Forces Reserve to maintain their Joint Terminal Attack Controller program as the senior JTAC WTI. In October 2018 Maj McBride completed the Army Infantry School’s Airborne Course to support the unit’s jump mission. In March 2019, Maj McBride coordinated the Marine Corps’ first use of the Northrop Grumman Distributed Operations Center to enhance JTAC and Pilot proficiency training at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. While at 2d and 6th ANGLICO Maj McBride coordinated and executed multiple CAS events around the country and helped support international exercises in South Korea, Canada, Finland, and Scotland while instructing joint and multinational JTACs.
In June 2019, Maj McBride assumed the duties as the Executive Officer of Headquarters Squadron 39 before being selected to serve as the Staff Secretary for the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing Commanding General. After serving two Commanding Generals, Major McBride was assigned to serve as the Executive Officer for Marine Wing Support Squadron 372 while maintaining currency as a UH-1Y pilot. He is now serving as the Aviation Assistant for Officer Procurement with 1st Marine Corps District and is directed with finding future aviators and officer candidates for the Marines Corps.
Major McBride’s earned a degree of Master of Business Administration from Washington State University in 2022 and his personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Strike/Flight Medal (with numeral 3), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
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Man of the Year
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Charles Manna
Charles Manna has been living in Little Neck since 1994. He, like many other residents, moved here to take advantage of the great schools, great neighbors, and the convenient commute to New York City. He found that the neighborhood had a great history of community involvement. He came to appreciate the ambience and quality of the living standard here. He became active in the Westmoreland Homeowner’s Association soon after where he currently serves as the organization's secretary. Charles is working with the membership, our politicians and other homeowner organizations in Queens to keep our neighborhood safe from changes in zoning that would endanger our living standards. Charles participates in the semi-annual cleanup of the Glenwood Landing Park in our neighborhood as well as the annual cleanup of Little Neck Bay.
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Charles joined the Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade Committee ten years ago as the Treasurer. He has helped organize the parade, the fundraising events and the other traditional events that include and surround the parade. He joins several other committee members annually to mount American Flags and MIA Flags along Northern Boulevard as a tribute to our veterans. As the son, son-in-law and nephew of WWII veterans, he greatly appreciates the sacrifice that was made by the “Greatest Generation.” Working with the parade committee is his way of honoring them.
Charles also has a passion for the great outdoors. He is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and devotes time each week volunteering at the Wildlife Center of Long Island and is on-call to rescue and transport wildlife that is orphaned or injured.
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Woman of the Year
Dorothy Mulholland
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Born in Stamford, Connecticut in 1931, Dorothy attended Albertus Magnus College where she received a BA in Sociology in 1952. Dorothy continued her studies at Fordham University in NYC where she received a Masters Degree in Social Work.
She was happily married for 45 years to Joseph Mulholland, who passed away in 2002 at an early age. Together, they raised four children. Dorothy is the proud grandmother of twelve and great-grandmother of eight!
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Dorothy had a successful professional career as the Director of Social Work at Flushing Hospital for over 20 years before retiring and currently resides in Douglaston.
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Dorothy is a world traveler, having been to over 40 countries. Her latest plans include an upcoming trip to the Netherlands to see the tulips!
A true community activist, Dorothy has been involved in numerous groups and charitable organizations. She is a past President of the Women’s Club of Douglaston, served on the Board of Douglaston Garden Club, and is a longtime volunteer at St Francis Hospital. She has enjoyed her years as a devoted parishioner of St. Anastasia Church since 1972, was a member of the choir and currently lectures weekly. Dorothy has contributed her time and efforts to Hour Children and Providence House - two wonderful NY-based organizations that serve to improve the lives of those less fortunate.
Dorothy is thrilled to be honored as the 2024 Woman of the Year for the Little Neck- Douglaston Memorial Day Parade!
Community Service Award
Robert Schirling
Bio
Bob is a retired CPA. Bob & his wife Rovena have been members of the Douglaston/Little Neck community, parishioners of St. Anastasia Parish, and members of the Douglaston Club, since 1996. Bob and Rovena have three adult sons.
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Work and not-for-profit experience
Ernst & Young LLP, New York, NY (1984 – 2021) Ernst &b Young (EY) is a global professional services firm. Bob was promoted to Partner in
1996, and from 2007- 2021, was Director of Professional Practice for EY’s Assurance Practice focusing on financial services clients. Bob interacted with C-suite executives, Audit Committees and Boards, and interacted regularly with relevant regulators, including the SEC, PCAOB, and OCC. From 1996 to 2007, Bob was a signing audit partner for some of the firm’s largest public and private financial services audit clients.
Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy, Douglaston, NY Chairperson, Board of Trustees (2019-) - Treasurer, Board of Trustees (2009 – 2019)
Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy is an independent Roman Catholic school formed under the guidance of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens and chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. The Academy was established in September 2009 in Douglaston in the building which formerly housed the St. Anastasia Parish School for over 80 years. The Academy has 355 students from Pre-k to Grade 8. The Academy focuses on developing the whole child - spiritually, socially and emotionally, physically and academically. The Academy’s goal is to nurture each student’s ability in developing their gifts to be used in life-long service, following Jesus’ example through prayer, service, and love.
Other NFP Board experience
Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Brooklyn NY (Treasurer and Board member 1998 – 2007)
Queens Botanical Garden (Treasurer and Board member 2008 – 2014)
Education
Manhattan College, Bronx, NY 10471 - Graduated Magna Cum Laude 1985
Regis High School – Graduated June 1981
Parade Marshall
Arthur Grabiner (Pronounce Gruh-bee-ner) 98-Years-Young
WWII U.S. Navy Veteran Home: North Flushing Born: 12/11/25
Arthur Grabiner is a WWII U.S. Navy Veteran who valiantly served aboard the USS Laurens APA153 in the Pacific as a teenager launching amphibious assaults and combating Japanese kamikaze suicide aircraft attacks during the Battle of Okinawa and Invasion of Lingayen Gulf in Northern Luzon in the Philippines. Evading Japanese enemy submarines while conducting island-hopping campaigns, the USS Laurens logged more than 60,000 nautical miles in WWII's Pacific Theater. Mr. Grabiner attained the rate of Yeoman Second Class and earned these honors: Asiatic Pacific Medal 2 Stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon 1 Star, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, American Theater Medal, Navy Occupation
Service Medal (with Asia clasp), World War II Victory Medal.
Today, almost 80 years following the Allied Victory in WWII, Mr. Grabiner continues to selflessly serve by visiting students enrolled in elementary, middle, high school, universities, federal service academies (Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines), senior military colleges, ROTC programs throughout the USA and abroad while enthusiastically sharing enduring lessons he learned about courage, perseverance, honor, freedom, patriotism. Also, Mr. Grabiner actively volunteers aboard the WWII-era U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, USS Intrepid, at the Intrepid Museum in
New York City. In recognition of his valiant WWII U.S. Navy service plus dedication to educating and inspiring younger generations, Mr. Grabiner was inducted into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame during a ceremony in the New York State Capitol in Albany in 2019.
Mr. Grabiner describes the cost of defending the United States of America to students as follows: "The largest funeral I have ever and will ever attend occurred on April 2, 1945 during the brutal Battle of Okinawa. Wearing my dress white U.S. Navy uniform, I stood at attention and saluted while on the top deck of my ship, USS Laurens APA153. As the bugler blew taps, my fellow U.S. Navy sailors, killed in action during Japanese kamikaze suicide aircraft attacks on our task unit of U.S. Navy warships earlier the same day, were buried at sea. The remains of each sailor who made the ultimate sacrifice, inside a weighted canvas bag covered with the American flag, was slid into the watery grave of the Pacific Ocean. As I reflected upon my fellow sailors' fate, I thought of their families back home in the States, their mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters. None would have a grave with a stone to visit and grieve over. Maybe they would be given their son's, brother's dog tags if they were not lost amid the wreckage or destroyed in the fire of the kamikaze attacks.
A patriotic American and intrepid defender of our freedom while proudly serving in the U.S. Navy during WWII, Arthur
Grabiner is unselfishly committed to causes greater than himself:
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"Non sibi sed patriae"
"Not for self, but for country"
"Semper Fortis"
"Always Courageous"
"Anchors Aweigh!"
Lifelong New Yorker, Mr. Grabiner was born on the lower east side of Manhattan, raised in the Bronx, resided in Brooklyn and, since 1960, has lived in North Flushing, Queens. He is a product of New York City's public schools. Under the GI Bill, Mr. Grabiner earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in three years at Pace College (now University), Class of 1950. For half a century, Mr. Grabiner enjoyed a flourishing career and thriving practice as a certified public accountant and principal of a Manhattan-based public accounting firm.
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Parade Marshall
Sok Kang
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Mr. Sok Hui Kang was born in Seoul, South Korea. He is a Korean War Veteran, who was wounded in action and awarded a Purple Heart Medal and President Rhee’s Citation of Honor.
Mr. Kang began his career by working as a radio broadcaster for the Voice of United Nations Command in Seoul, South Korea. In 1973, he immigrated to the United States. His career included working for ABC News in NYC. During this time, he covered important news events such as the fall of Saigon during the Vietnam War, President Jung Hee Park’s assassination and the North Korean government’s attempt to assassinate President Doo Hwan Chun during his visit to Burma. In 1988, NBC Sports recruited him to work on the 1988 Summer Olympics project in Seoul, South Korea.
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Mr. Kang then became an immigration officer for the U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Service. In 1992, he founded and became the Executive Director of the Korean Immigrant Services of New York, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to providing legal and social services to all new immigrants. As the Executive Director, Mr. Kang, with limited resources, assisted more than 10,000 immigrants to become U.S. Citizens.
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In 2004, Mr. Kang was elected as the President of the Korean War Veterans Association of Greater New York, serving for eight years. His demonstrated leadership and reputation in the Korean American community led him to serve on Community Board 7 in Queens for over ten years. Mr. Kang was also elected as the President of the Coalition of Korean Americans for Social Services and the Northern Queens Health Coalition. Through these vehicles, Mr. Kang has been actively advocating for immigrant’s rights and the promotion of better health care for immigrant families.
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Mr. Kang is a frequent writer and author of “Everything You Should Know About Immigrating to the U.S.” and “The Korean War Remembered”. He is also an eloquent speaker for various local ethnic newspapers and radio stations where he voices his opinions with the highest integrity and insight.
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Mr. Kang is a true immigrant with a unique vision and an inspiring leader of the Korean American community of New York City.
Parade Marshall
Kenneth O’Shea
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Kenneth was born in Manhattan on July 28, 1937. He has been a resident of Douglaston, New York since 1938. Kenneth graduated from St. Anastasia Elementary School in Douglaston in 1951. He attended Bayside High School and graduated in 1955. Upon leaving Bayside High School, Kenneth enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was honorably discharged in 1956 and quickly enrolled in St. Michael’s College in Burlington, Vermont. Kenneth graduated with a degree in
Business Administration from St. Michael’s in 1960.
Upon graduation, Kenneth began a lifetime career of selling trucks. He began this highly successful career with Diamond Reo. In 1971, Kenneth began a 25-year career at Mack Trucks, Inc. where he won many career achievement awards, including Salesman of the Year. Kenneth retired from the Mack Company in 1995 at the age of 58. Kenneth’s love of his customers and trucks led to another 25+ career at Gabrielli Truck Sales.
Kenneth is a man of great faith and attends weekly masses at St. Mary’s in Manhasset, St. Anastasia in Douglaston or Sacred Heart in Southampton. Kenneth is very active in the Knights of Columbus where he served as Grand Knight and District Warden in Great Neck and Manhasset through St. Mary’s and St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Churches.
Kenneth’s love of golf, card playing and merlot led to 50-year memberships at both the Douglaston Club and the Plandome Country Club. Kenneth can easily be found on a Friday evening at the Douglaston Club or playing cards in the Men’s Grille on a Wednesday afternoon at Plandome Country Club.
Kenneth was one of five children. His brothers and sister are Vincent, William, Robert and Anne. He also has many loving nieces and nephews.
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