When you hear of honoring someone you think of all they’ve accomplished and how their legacy has helped others.  My hometown of Ingersoll Houses, consisting of 20 buildings and is 6 and 11-stories tall, has been given a name in honor of all his accomplishments towards creating a better environment for one and all. His name is Raymond V. Ingersoll and He has indeed earned a name for himself by serving as the Parks Commissioner, Brooklyn Borough President and was an advocate for Public Housing. He also championed broader public use of parks, playgrounds and beaches. He spearheaded the consolidation of the subway systems, creation of health centers, a central library building, the Brooklyn College campus and a slew of other accreditation. He was a member of the State Commission which revised tenement and housing laws in 1928-29. Ingersoll strongly advocated non-partisan municipal government. Today, the area once called Fort Greene has come a long way in that it has been rumored to be considered the New Manhattan due to the numerous renovations which some locations are known as Fort Green Avalon and Vinegar Hill.  Ingersoll once wrote: “The Dreamer Dies, But Never Dies The Dream.” Which I believe he has proven in all his accomplishments.  Ingersoll Houses is located in Brooklyn, NY.  I am happy to live in a place where some paved the way for me and thousands of others to live in place where everyone of all ethnic and economic backgrounds can dwell amongst each other peacefully.

This is what’s left of the legendary Ebbits Field where some of the greatest games were played. This famous stadium was erected in April of 1913 and the first game was on April 5, 1913 where the Brooklynteam scored a 3-2 exhibition victory over the Yankees as Casey Stengel and Jake Daubert hit inside-the-park homers. Although Ebbets was linked to Spring Street in Manhattan, He felt a strong connection to Brooklyn to which he became a charter employee of Brooklyn’s baseball team, as an assistant secretary and handyman, when it played its first game in 1883.  His responsibilities elevated to scheduling and other affairs and, In the 1890s, he was elected to the State Assembly from Park Slope and later became a part of the Brooklyn City Council.  I’ve only had the pleasure of sitting in on one or two games in my lifetime but I can say that it was an interesting an exciting experience as I for one will always be a fan my Borough-Go Brooklyn!

This park was named after a man who may say was an unsung hero of his day for he rose from a humble cabin boy to establishing high ranking position of Senior Commander of the entire United States fleet. Commodore Barry was given the title “Father of the Navy” due to the training of the many heroes of the War of 1812.  I believe his title was indeed well deserved because he fought valiantly for what he believed was just while remaining humane to his men as well as his adversaries and prisoners all the while receiving little or no monies whatsoever.  Based on that fact that a park which embodies peace tranquility and family is named after him, I believe his tile should affectionately be the father of all that stands for the good and the just. Doctor Benjamin Rush, a close friend of Barry and the signer of the declaration wrote: “He fought often and once bled in the cause of freedom, but his habits of War did not lessen in him the peaceful virtues which adorn private life.”   Commodore Barry was a man who served his Nation well and for that we salute you.

To speak his name is to know of one the greatest fighters of justice and equality.   The Airport formally known as Idlewild Airport was created due to the overcrowding of LaGuardia Airport.  It would be fitting for an airport to be named after one of the many great men who stood for justice because his words and his mannerisms would take you on a journey to a place where someday we will all be free of the negativity racism which plagued our country back in the 60’s.  Born from a successful banker and Boston Debutante, the man himself, John F. Kennedy, was also the 35th U.S. president that negotiated the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty and initiated the Alliance for Progress.  Kennedy remains the only American president to win a Pulitzer Prize.  John F. Kennedy was the second youngest American president in history (next to Theodore Roosevelt who was on 42 years of age when he became President).  Former President John F. Kennedy, in his inaugural speech, said “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” which to this day is one of the most famous lines used in television and film.  Kennedy spearheaded the defense of civil rights activist James Meredith who became the first African American student to enroll at the University of Mississippi in 1962.  To reiterate, I believe that every building or monument which was named after Former President John F. Kennedy was well deserved for each represent the kind of man he was and I believe would still be had he not been assassinated On November 21, 1963 in Dallas, Texas.  Aside from who its named after, the airport is indeed more practical to fly to any destination in the world because of their overall customer service and travel accommodations-by the way, it’s cheaper too.  Happy trails!