Captain Mario Fajardo Park (Queens)
Present name:Unnamed (Commonly known as North Hempstead Turnpike Playground).
Location:Northwest corner of Kissena Boulevard and Booth Memorial Avenue
Honoree: Captain Fajardo (1961-1991) came to the US from Ecuador with his family in 1973 and earned a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from the Citadel Military College. Serving with the US Army in Korea, he took part in civilian community projects as well as military construction projects. In 1988, whie at Fort Bragg, NC, he coordinated planning and construction of a much needed school recreation area in Fayetteville. In 1990, serving in Honduras, he built an airstrip for miitary and civilian use as well a eight schools. Later that year he was deployed to the Persian Gulf during opeation Desert Shield. On February 26, 1991, he was killed as he led a unit of 100 men in clearing a minefield.
LL:1992/48