By Phil Orenstein
President of the Queens Village Republican Club
A patriotic medley was performed by Naomi Sica on the piano as guests entered the grand ballroom of the renowned Antun’s of Queens Village, a magnificent catering hall in Eastern Queens, where nearly every New York Governor, New York City Mayor, and President of the United States have been in attendance since the 1950s.
The 148th Anniversary Lincoln Dinner was a spectacular patriotic gala with over 250 patriotic Americans who traveled from the corners of the tri-state region and even some came up from Florida. As they entered the hall, folks joined in the singing of God Bless America and patriotic songs and stood for the Star-Spangled Banner led by Pastor Dana Dice. Father Paul Palesty of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church delivered an uplifting invocation to open the dinner program which was emceed by Barbara from Harlem.
Some of the highlights of this exceptional dinner party were the stirring and emotional Lincoln Address delivered by Marly Hornik, Executive Director of NY Citizens Audit, and the rousing speech by Kristina Raevsky, recipient of the Young American Patriot of the Year award. Kristina is a 13-year-old author of two books and multiple op-eds on saving America and restoring meritocracy in our education system. She was applauded later in the program by keynote speaker, Steve Cortes as a brave patriot who has what it takes to become the first female president of the U.S.A.
