The John E. Lawe memorial is at the entrance to the Cultural Center Grounds. John E. Lawe was president of the Transport Workers Union of America from 1985 to 1989. He was the last of a series of Irish-born leaders of the Transport Workers Union, in New York City.

John emigrant from Strokestown, Co. Roscommon Ireland to New York in 1949, at age 30. His first job was as a bus cleaner for the Fifth Avenue Coach Company, which was later bought by the New York City Transit Authority. In 1966, he had served on the T.W.U. negotiating committee in a citywide transit shutdown that resulted in the jailing of Michael J. Quill, the then head of the union. Mr. Lawe became the fourth international president of the T.W.U. since its formation in 1934. He was marshal of St. Patrick's Parade. Mr. Lawe, was prominent in New York's Irish-American community and served as grand marshal of the St. Patrick's Day parade in 1987.

The memorial was placed at the entrance to the grounds as a mark of respect for an Irish mad that did so much for the Irish community in New York and America.