WWI+Memorial+Trees

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WWI Recruits leaving Woodhaven, NY

===In 1919, fifty-three [|Memorial Trees] were planted in Forest Park to honor fallen Work War I Soldiers from Woodhaven. 17 trees were later added, bringing the total to 70. Each year for Memorial Day, the trees were decorated with ribbons by the soldiers' families. The trees became a focal point for Memorial Day Parades and other ceremonies that would march through Forest Park and end at Victory Field. Unfortunately, as families either moved or passed away ,the trees and the soldiers were forgotten.===

===In 2015, the tradition of decorating the Memorial Trees and honoring our fallen soldiers was revived. This was a joint effort by Project Woodhaven, American Legion Post 118, and the Woodhaven Cultural and Historical Society.===

===Listed below are the names of fifty-three Woodhaven men who last their lives during WWI. In the next few weeks we will be adding information about each of them. (__Cypress Hills National Cemetery listed below as CHN, Cypress Hills Private Cemetery listed as CHP)__===

*If one of the man listed below is a member of your family we would love to hear from you. Please email WoodhavenSoldiers. We are looking for family stories, photos of the men and in some cases the grave location.

===[|Francis L Allyn] - Private 1st Class. Francis was born on 13th of January 1894 in Woodhaven to Francis Allyn Sr. and Cora Gibson. He died of wounds on the 10th of August 1918. Burial CHP Section 8 Lot 50 E 1/2===

===[|John D'avella] - Private, Killed in action, John D'Avell a was born in the city of Napoli in or about 1895. Emigrated to America he settled in Brooklyn, NY where he worked as Engraver for the Eugenio D'Avell a. He was inducted in the Army with serial number 1701578 and he was assigned to the 306th Infantry, Company D as part of the 77th Division. He was Killed in Action on November 05, 1918. Notified his godfather Alessandro Marasciullo.===

===John DelVecchio - Private, killed in action, died 12th September 1918. Burial unknown. John was born in Castelmore, Italy in 1895. Before being inducted in the Army he lived with his sister and brother-in-law, Mr, and Mrs. Michael Cassillo at 1130 Lawn Ave, Ozone Park, NY. He was born Giovanni Del Vecchio in the village of Castelnuovo di Conza around 1895. He migrated to America settling in Ozone Park,Queens, NY where he worked as Pipe Maker for the William Demuth Company. He was inducted in the Army with serial number 1908114 and he was assigned to the 327th Infantry, Company L as part of the 82nd Division.===

===Robert James McBurnie - Cook, died of broncho pneumonia. Was originally buried in Rouen, France St. Sever Cemetery with at least 30 others from Brooklyn. These soldiers were moved to another cemetery. Presently burial is unknown.===

===[|Clemente Vitale] - Private, killed in action, 15 October 1918, Tablets of the Missing Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery Romagne, France. Clemente Vitale or Clementi Vitali was born in Casamarciano, Italy around1890. He emigrated to America settling in Ozone Park, Queens, NY and worked as a baker. He was inducted in the Army with serial number 2444602 and he was assigned to the 308th Infantry, Company L as part of the 77th Division.===

===[|Howard Von Dohlen] - Sergeant, killed in action, 17th October 1918. Buried Lutheran All Faiths, Lot 13326-13328 Map 3A ([|(Howard Von Dohlen Playground)]===