Memorial Day parade set for Monday

As is longstanding tradition, hundreds of people representing dozens of local organizations will line up Monday for Merrick’s Memorial Day parade, weather permitting. Members of Merrick’s American Legion Post, other veterans’ groups, fire departments, school marching bands, civic organizations, houses of worship, Girl and Boy Scouts, and sports teams as well as local elected officials will assemble at 8:45 a.m. at Veterans Plaza between Brooklyn and Merrick avenues. The parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. and proceed north on Merrick Avenue to Lee Avenue.

Parade grand marshal Robert Wieboldt, a past commander of Merrick’s American Legion Post 1282, will lead the procession. Wieboldt joined the Army Air Corps in 1943, when he was 23 years old. He served for three years, during which time he was based in New York, Florida and Mississippi. Eventually Wieboldt became a gunnery instructor, and he taught gunnery on B17, B24 and B29 planes. He earned the rank of staff sergeant.

Wieboldt has been a member of Merrick’s American Legion Post 1282 for 68 years, serving as its commander from 1959 to 1962, 1973 to 1976 and 1979 to 1997.

Today Wieboldt has two sons, four granddaughters and one great-grandson. He lives in Levittown but remains an active member of the Merrick American Legion. He celebrated his 94th birthday earlier this year.