Tag Archives: Merrick

Requiem for Booker T. Gibson

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
March 18, 2016

Instead of writing this right now, I’d be at Booker T. Gibson’s funeral at Union Baptist Church in Hempstead, if I’d learned about his March 10th death sooner, rather than a few minutes ago when I read his moving obituary by Herald reporter Scott Brinton.

Merrick, New York, USA. May 27, 2013. Veteran Booker T. Gibson at Annual Memorial Day Parade 2013, hosted by American Legion Merrick Post No. 1282, with ceremony at Merrick Veteran Memorial Park. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Merrick, New York, USA. May 27, 2013. Veteran Booker T. Gibson at Annual Memorial Day Parade 2013, hosted by American Legion Merrick Post No. 1282. (© 2013 Ann Parry, Ann-Parry.com)

Booker was an active member of the American Legion Merrick Post 1282, and I’m a member of its Auxiliary. We first met on December 10, 2011, at the Northport VA Medical Center, where he played piano to accompany our AL Post members singing Christmas carols to patients. Which was more mesmerizing and expressive: Booker’s big bright eyes, his hands as they played, or his warm personality? I can’t decide.

Close-up of Booker T Gibson's hands as he plays piano at Northport VA medical Center, on Dec. 19, 2011. Light vignette. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, Ann-Parry.com)

Northport, New York, USA. December 19, 2011. Close-up of Booker T Gibson’s hands as he plays piano at Northport VA medical Center to accompany American Legion Merrick Post 1282 singers. (© 2011 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Years ago, filmmaker André Joseph contacted me to license editorial photos for EPYX Productions’ 2013 documentary film on Booker T. Gibson. When we spoke, Joseph’s deep respect for Gibson was clear, as it was later in his 2013 documentary:

AJ EPYX Documentary film:  Book T. Gibson: A Teacher’s Journey

Writing this visual requiem, I feel both sad (quite sad) and profoundly grateful to have known and photographed fellow Merrokean, fellow teacher, fellow lover of music, Booker T. Gibson.

American Legionnaires, Booker T. Gibson at right, riding in classic car in Merrick Memorial Day Parade on May 28, 2012, on Long Island, New York, USA. America's war heroes are honored on this National Holiday. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Merrick, New York, USA. May 28, 2012. American Legionnaires, Booker T. Gibson at right, riding in classic car in Merrick Memorial Day Parade. (© 2012 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Booker T. Gibson playing piano:  GALLERY

Scott Brinton/Herald Life:  Booker T Gibson Obituary

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Winter Storm of 2016 Hits Long Island

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
January 26, 2016

Travel was strictly for the birds last weekend, when Winter Storm Jonas brought so much gusting snow that Governor Cuomo declared a State of Emergency and later banned travel.

Merrick, New York, USA. January 23, 2016. Travel is strictly for the birds, when Blizzard Jonas brings dangerous snow and gusting winds to Long Island, and Governor Cuomo bans travel, shutting down L.I.'s roads and railroads, due to hazardous conditions. A red male cardinal and several wrens eat seeds from a variety of hanging bird feeders in a suburban backyard, as the winter Storm of 2016 already dropped over a foot of snow on the south shore town of Merrick, with much more snow expected throughout Saturday and early Sunday. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Merrick, New York, USA. January 23, 2016. As Winter Storm Jonas brings dangerous snow and winds to Long Island, a  red male cardinal and several wrens eat seeds from bird feeders. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

As the storm was at its strongest mid-Saturday, I captured photos of wrens, robin red crests, cardinals, and pigeons at our bird feeders. Since I was aiming my Nikon through our open dining room window, I first put our two cats safely behind a shut door of another room.

Merrick, New York, USA. 24rd January 2016. Two Town of Hempstead snowplows, a small one plowing out a cul de sac, dead end side street, and a large plow on the bigger road leading to it, are clearing roads while Blizzard Jonas continues to bring dangerous snow and gusting winds to Long Island. Governor Cuomo banned travel, shutting down L.I.'s roads and railroads, due to hazardous conditions, and the winter Storm of 2016 has already dropped about two feet of snow on the south shore town. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Merrick, New York, USA. 24rd January 2016. Two Town of Hempstead snowplows are clearing roads early Sunday morning, while Blizzard Jonas continues to bring dangerous snow and gusting winds to Long Island.  (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Town of Hempstead Highway Department crews were working around the clock that weekend, and their long hard work showed. In fact, I saw a cul de sac near Park Avenue School cleared of snow before breakfast time Sunday.

Merrick, New York, USA. January 24, 2016. After Nor'easter drops more than two feet of snow on south shore of Nassau County, Long Island, many Town of Hempstead Highway Department employees work long hours operating snow ploys to plows to remove about 25 inches of snow blanketing downtown streets and public parking lots. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Merrick, New York, USA. January 24, 2016. Town of Hempstead Highway Dept. employees work long hours plowing 25 inches of snow blanketing downtown streets and parking lots. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Sunday afternoon, I took my all-wheel drive for a quick visit to downtown Merrick, where Town of Hempstead crews were plowing over two-feet of snow from the parking lots for the Merrick Long Island Rail Road Station and Merrick United States Post Office.

And I was absolutely thrilled I charged extra batteries and picked up extra bottles of water on Friday for nothing, since we didn’t lose electricity.

Winter Storm 2016:  GALLERY

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Final Roll Call – Merrick Memorial Day Parade 2014

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
May 26, 2014

Once again, three generations of our family attended the Merrick Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony.

Merrick, New York, U.S. - May 26, 2014 - Mother holds her 2-year-old son who is pointing to a Fire Engine in the Merrick Memorial Day Parade, hosted by American Legion Post 1282 of Merrick, honoring those who died in war while serving in the United States military. (Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, NY, USA. May 26, 2014.  Mom and her toddler son watch fire engines in the Merrick Memorial Day Parade. (© 2014 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

This morning it was even more moving than usual because Dad’s name was one of those read during the American Legion Merrick Post 1282  “Final Roll Call” near the end of the memorial events at Merrick Veteran’s Memorial Park.

Dad loved history, especially about the Civil War. He had a photographic memory – which landed him in military intelligence during WWII. He enjoyed reciting poems, and we all enjoyed listening to them, including a dashing rat-a-tat-tat one about a military reporter, that Dad heard the author recite just once. He was also quite the raconteur.

In the above video, Dad becomes more his animated self as he goes along. Our family loves how it gives a glimpse of the kind, gentle man he was.

We miss you and we love you, Dad.

Merrick, New York, U.S. - May 26, 2014 - A veteran salutes fire fighters marching in The Merrick Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony, hosted by American Legion Post 1282 of Merrick, honors those who died in war while serving in the United States military. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Merrick, NY, USA. May 26, 2014 – Merrick Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony, hosted by American Legion Post 1282 of Merrick. (© 2014 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick Memorial Day 2014:  PHOTO GALLERY

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