Kimlau Square

The Daily Plant : Friday, June 8, 2001

PARKS UNVEILS FIRST HISTORICAL SIGN IN CHINESE

Everyday, a memorial to Lieutenant Benjamin Ralph Kimlau and an historical sign about his life educate New Yorkers and visitors-in English. Because Kimlau was Chinese American and many of the people who enjoy Kimlau Square in Manhattan are Chinese-speakers, Parks agreed to post a Chinese translation of the historical sign, which Commissioner Henry J. (StarQuest) Stern unveiled on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28. In the future, Chinese-speaking visitors will gain a clearer understanding of Kimlau's contribution to World War II.

Kimlau was a graduate of Dewitt Clinton High School and the United States Army War College. Assigned to the "Flying Circus", the 380th Bombardment Group of the Fifth Air Force, he embarked on a mission in 1944 to bomb Japanese airbases around New Guinea. On March 5, Kimlau and his fellow pilots were shot down while fulfilling an order to attack the Japanese rear line at Los Negros. Their bravery and commitment earned them two Presidential Unit Citations and a monument dedicated in 1961 by New York's largest veteran's post, the Chinese Memorial Post 1291, which hosted the Memorial Day ceremony.

TREE ART BY BENJAMIN SWETT

For the past four years, Benjamin (Hawthorn) Swett, Writer and Photographer for Partnerships for Parks, has photographed trees throughout New York City. This Sunday an exhibit of his work, entitled New York City Trees, will open. It will include recent photographs and images from Great Trees of New York City: A Guide. The popular guide acquaints residents and visitors with 105 significant trees and groves in the five boroughs.

The exhibit, New York City Trees, will take place in Wave Hill House Gallery on West 249th Street and Independence Avenue in the Bronx. The opening is this Sunday, June 10 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the exhibit will run through the end of August. Come see a superb exhibit and support a fellow Parkie. By Brenna (Tuscany) Sevano

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT
(Friday, June 10, 1988)

PARKS COLLARS ILLEGAL DUMPER

On Tuesday a New Jersey company pleaded guilty to charges of illegally dumping hazardous waste at New Dorp Beach on Staten Island. The Applied Thermal Systems company of Hedding, New Jersey dumped ninety-two 30 gallon drums at the beach during the night of Saturday September 12, 1987. A community resident found the debris the next day, and notified the Sanitation Department. Sanitation in turn notified New York State Parks, the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"Every vital development in language is a development of feeling as well."

Thomas Stearns Eliot (1888-1965)