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R is for Remembrance, for those whom we’ve lost They steamed into battle no matter the cost Defending our nation, they bravely fought on We owe endless thanks to those who are gone Hernando Rios This 29-year-old resident of Woodside was a member of the Army National Guard, and he was killed Aug. 7, 2005, when an explosive device and small arms fire directed at his Humvee fatally injured Rios and another soldier, who both succumbed the following day. Rios lived with his mother, wife and two daughters in an apartment in Woodside. After his death was announced, a purple ribbon adorned the entrance to the apartment building and makeshift memorials were placed in front of his door. His brothers in arms honored him with a memorial in Iraq shortly after his death. “These are not average soldier by any means,” said friend Sgt. Jose Colon. “They were among the best.” Robert Marcus Rodriquez The first Queens soldier killed in Iraq, Robert Marcus Rodriquez, 21, died March 27, 2003, when his tank fell off a bridge into the Euphrates River. A Maspeth resident, Rodriquez joined the Marines at the age of 17 and barely met the height requirement needed for the Military Police. He came from a family who had a history in the armed services and Rodriquez had aspirations of someday becoming an NYPD officer. A graduate of John Adams High School in Ozone Park, Rodriquez was remembered as being a close family man, whose Puerto Rican roots were displayed among several tattoos on his body. Three other Marines were killed in the same tank accident the day Rodriquez died. Razr Phone The people over at Motorola left out the “o” in Razor for “O my, what a wonderful gift idea.” This high-tech and lightweight phone is Bluetooth ready and equipped with a VGA camera with MX digital zoom. Head on over to Skylight Paging at 168-47 Hillside Ave. in Jamaica to pick one up. Call them at (718) 526-9193 to learn more. Remembrance Tree One of the most difficult adjustments to make after losing a loved one is trying to get through the holidays without them. To help people through this difficult time, the staff at the Thomas M. Quinn Funeral Home, David Funeral Home and Stamatiades Funeral Home, invite you to attend the lighting of their “Memorial Tree” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13. Bring a small photo or ornament to place on the tree, as a remembrance of the ones you love. The tree is located at the Quinn Memorial Building at 35-20 Broadway, Long Island City. For directions or further information, call (718) 721-9200. Ramadan For more than a billion Muslims around the world – including some 8 million in North America – Ramadan is a month of blessing marked by prayer, fasting, and charity. This year Ramadan preceded Christmas and Hanukkah. Islam uses a lunar calendar, which is 11 days shorter than the solar calendar used elsewhere, meaning its starting date changes from year to year. While many religious holidays have become widely commercialized, Ramadan retains its focus on self-sacrifice and devotion to Allah (God). Muslims practice sawm, or fasting, for the entire month of Ramadan. This means that they may eat or drink nothing, including water, while the sun shines. After the sun sets, the fast is broken with a meal known as iftar. Iftar usually begins with dates and sweet drinks that provide a quick energy boost. Ramadan ends with the festival of Eid ul-Fitr, which in 2005 occurred Nov. 4. |
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