11th Annual Park Outing

On Sunday, August 3, 2025, we held our 11th Annual Park Outing at Valley Stream State Park on Long Island. We were happy to see a lot of new faces and of course, we’re always glad to see our diehard Guardian family members who always come out!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with our park outing event, every year, usually the first Sunday in August, we cater food from Rockaway Fish House and provide beer, soda, wine and other refreshments all free of charge. Of course, guests are welcome to bring their own food and beverages, too. We have games run by our very own Alphonso Dixon, who is our Sgt.-at-Arms and the music is provided by one of our members. The past two years Immediate Past President, Larry Boatwright was our DJ, and prior to that it was Bro. David Hector, Sr. Bro. Bernard Smiley is always our grill master, and he does a great job.

Congratulations to the winners of our chess and bid whist tournaments. Chess tournament winners were – 1st Place, Mr. Floyd and 2nd place, Thomas Kemp (father of board member, Michelle Kemp). The first prize in the Bid Whist Tournament was awarded to Ms. Cynthia Boyce-Idlett (sister of Kevin Boyce) and Ms. Michelle Moseley. And the second prize bid whist winners were Ms. Rita Julian and Ms. Vickie Gonzalez.

Special thanks extended to our members and volunteers, who helped us clean and set up the tables, hung up the signs, loaded up the coolers, and served the food. We could not make this event a success without you: twins, Darrin and David Gordon, Al Dixon’s nephews and their friend Lamar; Kenny Nelson’s grands (daughter Michelle’s young men) Sheldon and Jordon May and Hunter Nelson; Mr. Owen Fronenberg, Ms. Thonia Frazier and Ms. Tina Cooper and if we forgot to mention your name, please know that your help was greatly appreciated. If you couldn’t attend, but donated money, time or energy, we say, “THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS!!!”

And we can’t forget Rose and the other ladies who were dancing to “Boots on the Ground.” Y’all showed up and showed out with your colorful attire and dance moves!

Special thanks to Sis. Michelle Kemp for taking so many great photos of the event, and we’ll try to post them all here, if we can.

So, that’s all for now. Until we meet again, stay safe and God Bless you all.