A quiet place of remembrance. That’s Sergeant Coyler Square. This peaceful park honors a true American hero Sergeant Wilbur E Colyer. He was the youngest Queens resident to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Sergeant Colyer wasn’t just any soldier. He was a brave seventeen-year-old from South Ozone Park. He served in the US Army during World War I. He volunteered for a dangerous mission near Verdun France. He and two other soldiers went to locate enemy machine-gun nests. They bravely advanced into enemy territory. They found themselves surrounded by hidden German machine guns.
Facing overwhelming odds Sergeant Colyer showed incredible bravery. He used a captured German grenade to kill a machine-gunner. He then seized the weapon. He turned it on the other enemy nests. He silenced them all. He single-handedly saved his platoon from devastating fire. His selfless act cost him his life. He died in action the next day.
His sacrifice wasn’t forgotten. The city acquired the land for Sergeant Coyler Square in 1921. In 1931 the park was officially named in his honor. Today the park offers a tranquil place for reflection. It’s a small but significant tribute to a young man’s extraordinary courage. His Medal of Honor resides in the 1st Infantry Division Museum. It serves as a lasting testament to Sergeant Colyer’s heroism. This quiet park is a reminder of his ultimate sacrifice for his country. Remember Sergeant Colyer. Remember his bravery. Remember Sergeant Coyler Square.