The second annual Franklin Square Warriors Parade stepped off on Sept. 8. The parade headed down Hempstead Turnpike as Warrior football players and cheerleaders showed off their uniforms and headed to Rath Park.

The parade started off as a way to increase enrollment in the program which offers football for boys from the ages of five to 13 President Mark Roder said. “We were just trying to increase enrollment and awareness of the Warriors,” he said. The group also offers cheerleading.

Hoards of young football players marching down Hempstead Turnpike seems to have done the trick Roder said as enrollment has increased in the past year. The parade concluded at Rath Park where a homecoming was waiting for all the players and families. “It was just high energy,” Roder said. “The kids had a great time.”

Over 700 community members turned out to enjoy the celebration which included rides and food. Aslo, on display were the Warriors’ new uniforms which are orange at home and white away as compared previous uniforms that were black at home and orange away. All of the Warriors’ teams play across Nassau County with many games at home at Rath Park on weekends.