Merricks remember America's fallen heroes

Memorial Day is a solemn occasion, a time to remember America’s fallen combat heroes, but in communities across the U.S., it is also a time that people come together to celebrate our shared humanity with parades that attract thousands of participants and spectators. Merrick is one such community.

On May 27, the Merrick and North Merrick communities gathered under sunny skies for a parade up Merrick Avenue that filled the thoroughfare with people. The procession, hosted by Merrick American Legion Post 1282, began promptly at 9:30 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Plaza, beside the Long Island Rail Road station at Merrick Avenue and Sunrise Highway. From there it headed north on Merrick Avenue to Veterans Memorial Park, near Camp Avenue Elementary School.

The parade was led, as always, by current members of the armed forces as well as veterans, including members of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Jewish War Veterans. Also taking part was the Merrick Kiwanis Club, which passed out American flags to spectators, along with the Merrick Chamber of Commerce, the Merrick and North Merrick fire departments, Daisies, Brownies, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Little Leaguers and marching bands from the Progressive School of Long Island in North Merrick, the Merrick and North Merrick elementary school districts, Merrick Avenue Middle School and Calhoun High School.

A short, solemn ceremony honoring America’s war dead followed the parade.

Noticeably absent this year was Tom Riordan, of North Merrick, a former commander of American Legion Post 1282 and the Nassau County American Legion, who died on April 19 after a long illness.