Photos: 15th annual Elmont Belmont Parade draws in thousands

It was a spectacular day for the 15th annual Paul Sapienza Elmont/Belmont Parade on June 3.

Sponsored by Home Depot, Fidelis and Northwell Health, thousands of marchers made their way roughly a mile and a quarter from the Alva T. Stanforth Sports Complex to the Belmont Park racetrack. Home Depot decorated the path down Hempstead Turnpike.

There were three grand marshals — all of whom are prominent figures leaving their positions in Elmont. Leading the parade will be Kevin Dougherty, Kenneth Rosner and Michael Scott Cushing.

Dougherty is stepping down as principal of Elmont Memorial High School. Rosner will leave his position as superintendent of the Elmont elementary school district and is moving on to East Meadow. Cushing, a longtime resident of Elmont assigned to the Special Legislative Task Force to Combat Antisemitism in Nassau, is relocating

Each grand marshal received a ceremonial key to Elmont designed by Frank Hrbek, who customized the keys to sport each marshal’s favorite color, with a horse stamped with their favorite number.

The New York Racing Association dedicated one of the Belmont Park races that day to the parade participants.