Barry Club to mark commodore’s 269th birthday

March 5, 2014 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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The Commodore Barry Club of Brooklyn, which has several Bay Ridge residents on its membership roster, will mark the birthday of the Father of the U.S. Navy a little early.

Commodore John Barry was born in Ireland on March 25, 1745, but the ceremony marking his birthday will take place on Tuesday, March 11. Members of the Commodore Barry Club will take part in a ceremony in a Fort Greene park named after the Revolutionary War hero.

The event, to take place in Commodore Barry Park at North Elliot Place and Nassau Street in Fort Greene, will feature a parade with bagpipes and the laying of a wreath at the Commodore Barry Memorial. Following the ceremony, club members will have lunch at Henry O’s Pub, at 120 Lawrence St.

A bus will leave the Harborview Car Service, 9419 5th Ave. in Bay Ridge, at 9:30 a.m. to travel to Greenpoint for the 11 a.m. ceremony.

Barry served in the Continental Navy and fought against the British in the Revolutionary War. He later served in the US Navy when it was established. Historians have often referred to him as the Father of the US Navy.

Commodore Barry Park is the oldest park in Brooklyn, according to the New York City Parks Department’s website. The land on which the park is located was acquired in 1836 by the Village of Brooklyn and was originally known as City Park. The park was renamed for Commodore Barry in 1951.

In other news, the club’s officers took their oath of office at a meeting last month. The officers are: Mary Nolan, president, John Murray, sergeant at arms, Mary Lennon, first vice president; John Houlihan, second vice president; Mary Donohue, treasurer; Lucy Wussou, recording secretary; Carol Lally, corresponding secretary; Bridget Gregory, financial Secretary; and Brian Kassenbrock, director of public relations.

For more information on the club, call 718-833-3405 or visit the club’s website at www.commodorebarryclubbrooklyn.org.