Memorial Day takes North Shore

Noah Manskar Sarah Minkewicz And Joe Nikic

Long Islanders will honor those who gave their lives for the U.S. at events throughout the weekend celebrating and commemorating Memorial Day.

Bethpage Federal Credit Union and the state Office Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will host the 2016 Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach State Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 28 and 29.

The show will feature three jet teams, including the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, who will give their seventh Bethpage appearance as part of their 70th anniversary tour.

The Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds and the Breitling Jet Team will also perform.

Air show entry is free, but vehicles must pay $10 to enter Jones Beach State Park.

The Town of North Hempstead will host Memorial Day fireworks and a commemoration ceremony at North Hempstead Beach Park on Saturday, May 28.

The program starts at 6 p.m. and will feature musical entertainment from U2 tribute band Unforgettable Fire and FiveStone, who will play popular 1980s hits.

Members representing Girl Scouts of Nassau County will also lead the pledge at the start of the event. Fireworks begins once it becomes dark.

The event is free but parking costs $10.

For more information, visit www.northhempsteadny.gov or call 516-869-6311.

The Port Washington Memorial Day parade will be held at 10 a.m. on May 30 on Port Washington Boulevard and Main Street. 

The parade, sponsored by American Legion Post 509 and VFW Post 1819, will continue down Main Street to the John Philip Sousa Memorial Bandshell in Sunset Park.

Vietnam veteran Jerald Tedeschi and Vietnam era veteran Leon Jankowski will be honored as grand marshal, along with at this year’s Memorial Day Parade.

“I am proud and honored to lead this year’s Memorial Day parade and to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for this great nation,” Jankowski said. “God bless America!”

The Port Washington Chamber of Commerce will be handing out thousands of American flags at the Memorial Day Parade.

The Town of North Hempstead will hold its annual Memorial Day Fireworks and Commemoration Ceremony, with its sponsor NEFCU, at North Hempstead Beach Park on Saturday, May 28.

This year, the Memorial Day Fireworks and Commemoration Ceremony will feature members representing the Girl Scouts of Nassau County leading the pledge, as well as musical entertainment from two bands: Unforgettable Fire, a U2 tribute band; and FiveStone, who will be playing popular songs from the ‘80s. 

North Hempstead Beach Park offers a boardwalk along the water and picnic areas so visitors can enjoy a start to the summer season.

“Our Memorial Day Fireworks Ceremony is always a wonderful way to kick off the summer,” North Hempstead Town Supervisor Bosworth said.  “By recognizing our veterans we have the opportunity to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our freedom.”

The program will start at 6 p.m.  Fireworks will begin at darkness.

The event is free but vehicles will be charged a $10 parking fee.

The Great Neck Memorial Day Parade will be held at 9:30 a.m. on May 30.

The parade starts at Susquehanna Avenue and Middle Neck Road.  

A large crowd of spectators is expected to line the streets and cheer marchers up to the Village Green, where the wife of Howard Bauman, who died of natural causes at age 95 in September, will be an honored guest on the grandstand. 

A memorial ceremony remembering those who sacrificed their lives in defense of the U.S. follows the parade. The ceremony will be followed by a final salute at All Saints Cemetery.

The Floral Park American Legion will start its annual Memorial Day parade at 10 a.m. Monday, May 30.

The parade will begin on Elizabeth Street and proceed north on Plainfield Avenue, west on Jericho Turnpike, south on South Tyson Avenue and east on Tulip Avenue. A ceremony will follow at 11 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park.

Legion members will place a wreath on the memorial near the Hawthorne Avenue firehouse during the parade.

Army veteran and past Legion Commander Jim Conti will serve as grand marshal, and Army Reservist Lt. Col. Stephen J. Ryan will serve as the guest speaker.

The New Hyde Park VFW and the Greater New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce will hold a parade starting at 10 a.m. May 28, along with other community organizations.

Marchers will assemble in the municipal parking lot on Lakeville Road starting at 9:15 a.m. and proceed east on Jericho Turnpike, north on Central Avenue — also known as Purple Heart Way — and proceed into Memorial Field for a ceremony at 11 a.m.

Albertson VFW Post No. 5253 will hold its annual ceremony on May 30 at 9 a.m. at 155 Searingtown Road in Albertson.

Ceremonies will also be held at the Albertson Memorial at the corner of Willis Avenue and I.U. Willets Road, and the Albertson firehouse at 100 I.U. Willets Road. There will be refreshments at the VFW post after a parade.

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