Albertson, Mineola, Willistons plan parades

Richard Tedesco

Memorial Day parades and observances will take place in the Willistons, Mineola and Albertson on Monday, May 27 with members of local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts directing the events.

Memorial Day in Williston Park will begin with a solemn commemorative service in the rear yard of American Legion Post 144 at 730 Willis Ave. at 9 a.m. American Legion Post Commander Frank Busa said American Legion veterans and members of Williston Park VFW Post 1688 will take part in those ceremonies.

The Williston Park Memorial Day parade is set to step off from the American Legion Post at 11 a.m., moving down Syracuse Street to Broad Street, then to Hillside Avenue and down to Park Avenue and to Center Street, turning onto Willis Avenue. It is expected to arrive at Williston Park Village Hall for ceremonies scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

Members of the Herricks High School Marching Band will be in the line of march, along with members of local Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops.

Busa said the line of march will reform after the ceremonies in front of Williston Park Village Hall for a second ceremony at Williston Park Fire Department headquarters south of Hillside Avenue on Willis Avenue for another commemorative ceremony.

Members of the Williston Park American Legion and VFW will then assemble at the East Williston War Memorial on the Village Green there to display colors at approximately 12 p.m.

A parade in East Williston will start at the North Side School at 11:30, proceeding to the East Williston Village Green for the observance at the war memorial.

The Mineola Memorial Day Parade will step off from Wilson Park at 11 a.m., moving along Union Street and then west along Jericho Turnpike to Marcellus Road, where it will proceed south to Mineola Memorial Park for ceremonies at approximately 11:30 p.m.

Luso Americano Motorcycle Club will lead the line of march, followed by member of American Legion Post 349, Adolf Block VFW Post 1305 and Catholic War Veterans Post 1949. 

The Chaminade Marching Band and Chaminade Bagpipe Band will follow, along with  members of the Mineola Fire Department and performers from the Mineola Portuguese American Heritage Society;

Local officials, including Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss and state Sen. Jack Martins, who will be speaking at the ceremonies, will also be marching. American Legion Commander Carl Marchese and VFW Commander Tom Scardino are also among the scheduled speakers at the commemoration ceremonies in Memorial Park.

Ceremonies will conclude with former U.S. Marine Steve Solarik playing taps. 

Albertson VFW Post 5253 will open its Memorial Day observance with a 9 a.m. commemorative ceremony outside its headquarters at 155 Searingtown Road. 

A parade with members of the VFW will immediately follow, with the line of march proceeding north on Searingtown Road, turning east on Evans Avenue to Willis Avenue, then proceeding north on Willis to I.U. Willets Road.

A wreath laying ceremony will then be held at the Albertson Memorial in Albertson Square, with the line of march reassembling and proceeding east on I.U. Willets Toad to the Albertson Fire Department headquarters. A final ceremony will be conducted there to honor the fallen members of the Albertson Fire Department.

Refreshments will be served at the Albertson VFW Post and the Albertson Fire Department after the conclusion of the parade and observances. 

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