KINGS POINT, N.Y., April 18, 2018 - Last Saturday, 65 Fourth Class Midshipmen joined by the Acta Non Verba Club of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point led the First Annual Tom & Alice Fucigna Memorial Douglas Manor Shoreline Cleanup at Little Neck Beach and Bay in Queens, New York.

This beach cleanup effort which was organized led by Midshipman Sarah Sires, from Charlestown, Rhode Island, honors the memory of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Fucigna, former Douglas Manor residents who dedicated their lives to serving others and leading by example.

Mr. Thomas Fucigna, Jr. said, “I believe that the most meaningful way to memorialize someone is to carry on their good work. Many thanks to organizer Midshipman Sarah Sires and the 65 Kings Point midshipmen who worked under her direction to remove a massive amount of marine debris from the shoreline of Little Neck Bay. Their work embodies the spirit of service, cooperation, and appreciation of water bodies and community everywhere that our parents instilled in me and my three sisters throughout our upbringing. They would have been so proud to see this group in action. Alice and Tom loved the bay, and all the people who are Douglaston. It is beautiful to see their love live on through this project.”

In total, the Midshipmen donated over 320 man-hours, filled three 30 cubic yard dumpsters with flotsam and debris, and piled another 30 cubic yards curbside for pick-up. Mr. Mike Gannon, President of the Douglas Manor Association expressed his gratitude saying,  "On behalf of the 595 families of Douglas Manor I would like to thank the Fucigna family, the Acta non Verba Club, and Midshipman Sarah Sires and the USMMA Class of 2021 for their environmental leadership in cleaning over a mile of Douglas Manor shoreline."

For Photos Click: First Annual Tom & Alice Fucigna Memorial Douglas Manor Shoreline Cleanup