Ever since her son died in combat in Afghanistan nearly two years ago, Queens Village’s Roselle Calero and her family have worked hard to find a way to have Major Jeffery R. Calero immortalized with his hometown street renamed in his honor.
Although Roselle Calero did not live to see the long-awaited ceremony Sunday afternoon, her efforts brought together the National Guardsman’s friends, comrades and community members for a somber memorial.
Pouring rain and gusty winds did not deter the ceremony as the crowd of dozens saw Hollis Court Boulevard at 90th Avenue become “Major Jeffrey Ray Calero Way.”
“It’s a culmination of my mother’s intense and endless efforts that Jeff never be forgotten. This is Mom’s day for Jeff,” said Irene Nauke, the guardsman’s older sister.
The 34-year-old solider was remembered with a full service that included a presentation of colors by the New York Military Youth Cadets, a wreath-laying ceremony and a performance of Taps. Members of FDNY Ladder company 150 out of Hollis used their truck with the unveiling of the new street sign after the rope used to remove it came off.
Jeffrey Calero attended St. Francis Prep High School, where he played on the football team. After graduating in 1991, he attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and enrolled in the ROTC.
He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1995 and served with the U.S. Army in South Korea for six years. His family and friends said the guardsman’s attraction to the armed services came from his lifelong appreciation of the values of camaraderie and leadership.
“He had a fascination with military history not because he liked war or [was] ‘us against them.’ He admired strategy and planning and wanted to get into that,” Nauke said.
After his time in Asia was over, Jeffrey Calero, the youngest of four, decided to stay with the armed services and enlisted with the Special Forces Green Berets of the Massachusetts National Guard. During his off duty time, Jeffrey Calero would work as a mechanical engineer in Manhattan.
He once attempted to recreate a Pontiac GTO sports car, according to his father.
Jeffrey Calero was on his second tour in Afghanistan Oct. 29, 2007, when he stepped on an IED and was killed. Several members of Jeffrey Calero’s unit attended the renaming and said they were grateful for his work overseas and keeping the unit safe during their tour.
“Jeff was a patriot who in time of war said, ‘Here am I, send me,’” said a Green Beret member who identified himself only as Sean.
After the guardsman’s burial, his family searched for a way to rename the street where he spent most of his younger years. His mother became an active community member and worked with Community Board 13, City Councilman David Weprin (D-Hollis) and others to make that dream possible.
Roselle Calero never saw the renaming because she lost her long battle with pancreatic cancer Sept. 10. Mourners who spoke were teary-eyed as they remembered the mother and son.
“Rose taught us all a profound lesson in faith, in strength and in love. It brings great comfort that she is now reunited with Jeffrey,” Sean said.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.