America’s veterans will be honored throughout the North Shore and the rest of Nassau County this Memorial Day weekend with parades, moments of silence, fireworks and the annual air show at Jones Beach.
The Town of North Hempstead will also host its annual Memorial Day Commemoration and Fireworks Extravaganza on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at North Hempstead Beach Park in Port Washington, featuring the U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard, Nassau County Police Pipe Band and the Volunteers of America firing detail.
A beachfront concert will also take place during the festivities featuring performances by the LP’s, playing the hits of Paul McCartney and Chicago, and Mack and Soul, playing popular music of yesterday and today.
“This event is such a wonderful opportunity for us to honor the true meaning of Memorial Day by paying tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice defending our nation,” said North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth. “I look forward to joining with thousands of residents to reflect on this important holiday and to celebrate with a breathtaking fireworks display.”
The annual Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach will showcase a host of daredevil flight performers including the United States Navy Blue Angels, United States Army Golden Knights Parachute Team and the American Airpower Museum Warbirds, among many others.
“The Long Island community is buzzing with excitement about this year’s show, and the return of an elite military jet team,” said Linda Armyn, senior vice president, Corporate Strategy, Bethpage. “Each year the Blue Angels perform, we see record numbers of fans convene on Jones Beach, and that makes for an exciting holiday weekend. We are thrilled to continue to work closely with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to help bring what has become one of the most anticipated, largest public events in New York State, right here to Jones Beach each year, for all to enjoy.”
The show will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both days and is free to the public, but a $10 parking fee will be collected upon entry to the park.
Here are some other Memorial Day celebrations taking place throughout the North Shore community:
Albertson
Memorial Day ceremonies at Albertson VFW Post 5253 will be held at 9 a.m. on May 26, with introductory remarks from Tony Catalano, the Post parade chairman. Albertson VFW Commander Tom Rumore will preside at the ceremonies where wreaths will be laid to honor those who died in combat. Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington), Bosworth and town Councilman Angelo Ferrara are also expected to attend the ceremonies.
At the conclusion of the ceremonies, a parade will follow with the VFW color guard leading the line of march north on Searingtown Road to Evans Avenue, proceeding east to Willis Avenue, then north to the gazebo at the intersection of I.U. Willets Road and Willis Avenue. Wreaths will be laid at the Veterans Memorial at the gazebo.
The parade will then proceed to the Albertson Fire House for a second ceremony with wreaths laid to honor fallen firefighters. The Herricks High School Marching Band and members of the Albertson Fire Department will be in the line of march.
Refreshments and food will be served in Post 5253 at 155 Searingtown Road following the parade.
East Hills
The Village of East Hills will officially open its village pool for the summer season at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
The pool also had additional hours on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for its Park Card members.
The pool is located within the East Hills Village Park at 209 Harbor Hill Road.
East Williston
In East Williston, the 35th annual Memorial Day 5K run kicks off on May 26 at 8:30 a.m. The East Williston Memorial Day Parade follows at 11 a.m. from Downing Street to the Village Green. Memorial Day ceremonies will follow at the Village Green Veterans Memorial with members of Williston Park VFW Post 1688 participating.
Mineola
The Mineola Memorial Day Parade will step off from Wilson Park at 10:30 a.m., proceeding west on Westbury Avenue, north to Roslyn Road, then west on Jericho Turnpike to Marcellus Road where it will turn south into Memorial Park. Members of Adolph Block VFW Post 1305 will lead the parade, which will include the Mineola Marching Band, the Chaminade High School Band and members of the Mineola Fire Department.
Adolph Block Post Commander Tom Scardino will make opening remarks at the ceremonies in Memorial Park, where wreaths will be laid at the Veterans Memorial. Donated wreaths may be delivered to Mineola Village Hall on Saturday, May 24 from 9 a.m. to noon where veterans will be present to accept them.
Principal speakers at the Memorial Park ceremonies will include Village of Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss and Town of North Hempstead Clerk Wayne Wink.
Great Neck
The 90th annual Great Neck Memorial Day Parade will kick-off at 9:30 a.m. on May 26. The parade will be led by U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Color Guard and Regimental Band.
The parade will start on Middle Neck Road at Susquehanna Avenue and end at the Village Green, located at Middle Neck and Beach roads.
Great Neck resident and decorated Navy veteran Melvin Sachs will preside over the parade as grand marshal.
Manhasset
Manhasset’s Memorial Day festivities will begin with a flag placement ceremony at Pinelawn Cemetery on Saturday at 7 a.m. followed by a salute to veterans at North Hempstead Beach Park in Port Washington. A memorial service at the Church of St. Mary is also scheduled to take place on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
The community’s annual parade will begin on Monday at 10 a.m. on Plandome Road and proceed toward Northern Boulevard before turning onto Memorial Place and reach its conclusion at the Manhasset Secondary School.
Participants from more than 20 community organizations, including boy and girl scout troops, the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department and Manhasset Post 304 of the American Legion, are scheduled to march in the parade.
Once at the high school, the festivities will reconvene in the auditorium, where American Legion Vice Commander James Brooks will present the community’s Empire Boys State leadership awards to Manhasset High School students William Delaney, Tyler Lew, James Messina and Thomas Moschitta; St. Mary’s High School Student Taylor Wilson and Boy Scout Johnathan Knox.
The students will attend the Empire Boys State’s annual workshop celebrating the American political process from June 27 through July 3.
American Legion Axuiliary President Patricia O’Brien will then introduce Manhasset High School’s poppy queen, Maureen Kade, and present her with the Empire Girls State award.
Kade will attend the Empire Girls State’s annual workshop from June 30 to July 6 at SUNY College at Brockport.
New Hyde Park
In New Hyde Park, the village Memorial Day observance and parade will be held on Saturday, May 24. Members of G.&E. Linder Post 8031 will lead the line of march, stepping off from the intersection of Jericho Turnpike and Lakeville Road at 10 a.m. They will stop at the All Wars Memorial at New Hyde Park Village Hall for an eight-minute ceremony.
The parade will then proceed north on New Hyde Park Road to Memorial Park for ceremonies that will include a wreath-laying at the war memorial there. Village of New Hyde Park Mayor Robert Lofaro will preside over the ceremonies, which will include remarks from Mario Obertis, senior vice commander of Post 8031 and Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth.
New Hyde Park Deputy Mayor Lawrence Montreuil will read the names of village residents who died in the Vietnam War.
“Many of those young men were barely out of high school when they made the ultimate sacrifice in a hostile land far from home,” Montreuil said. “They were deprived from the opportunity to return to New Hyde Park and go on with their lives.”
Williston Park
In Williston Park, an everlasting memorial service to honor the dead fallen in combat will start the observances at 8:45 a.m. behind American Legion Post 144 hall at 740 Willis Ave.
A parade will follow with members of the American Legion post and Williston Park VFW Post 1688 from legion hall, stepping off at 9:30 a.m. and proceeding to Syracuse Street then Broad to Hillisde Avenue, turning off Hillside onto Center Street to Williston Park Village Hall. Members of the local Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts will also be in the line of march, but no band will be participating this year.
Village of Williston Park Mayor Paul Ehrbar and American Legion Commander Frank Oliveri will speak at the Village Hall observance. Williston Park “nightingale” Rosemarie Farrar is expected to sing the national anthem.
The legion will then proceed down Willis Avenue to the Williston Park firehouse for a second memorial service.
