Fifth annual Waterfront Warriors parade welcomes servicemen to Long Beach

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While undergoing treatment, Snell said, the servicemen must remain in Maryland, which can mean separation from their families for long periods of time. “We saw the impact on the families,” Snell explained. “So we take the whole family up [to Long Beach]. We’ve flown in mothers to see sons, we’ve flown family members up.”

Waterfront Warriors plans a variety of activities for the group, Snell said. This year they took a trip to Manhattan, where they toured ground zero and visited NYFD Rescue Company 1. They had a beach day, on which they could go out on a fishing boat or take surfing lessons. And they spent a night at Shea Stadium.

Sunday’s parade drew large crowds, and organizers were happy to see that even after Hurricane Sandy, the community still rallied behind their cause. “I’m not surprised at all,” said Howard Kalachman, commander of the local American Legion post. “I call this the little city with the big heart. It’s the least we could do — they gave quite a bit.”

Before the parade, more than a hundred competitors came down to the West End for the Long Beach Waterfront Warriors 5K race on Sunday morning. Civilians competed alongside military personnel both active and retired, including some of the soldiers who are visiting Long Beach this week as part of the Waterfront Warriors.

While serving in Afghanistan, Marine Gunnery Sgt. John Hayes stepped on an improvised explosive device that was buried in the sand. The force of the blast took his legs and left him facing 60 grueling surgeries. He competed in the race alongside his 12-year-old daughter, Katelyn, and finished second in his division. Adam Bernstein, 20, was the overall first-place finisher. But Mickey Newman was the oldest competitor to cross the finish line, at age 77.

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