Pirates parade through Bellmore at Homecoming

Mepham High students and alumni showed their spirit last Saturday at the school’s Homecoming parade, which paid special tribute to Mepham’s 75th anniversary.

The procession, which began at Bellmore’s Long Island Rail Road Station on Sept. 15, began the second weekend of events celebrating the school’s milestone anniversary. Starting with an all-class picnic in Wantagh on Sept. 8, the Mepham community also gathered on Sept. 9 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the school’s newly restored library. The Sunday ceremony was followed by school spirit week, which was capped off by the Homecoming parade and football game.

The sun was shining on Saturday morning as Mepham sports teams, administrators, alumni, student groups and faculty members made their way to the school before the afternoon gridiron matchup against crosstown rival Kennedy High. Nassau County Legislator Dave Denenberg of Merrick also joined the parade, for which Mike Muscara, Mepham’s athletic director, was the grand marshal.

Before the parade, Mepham Principal Michael Harrington said he expected a high turnout because of this year’s historic anniversary, as well as the sense of community that the school gives students. “Two years ago, we had a student who was a fourth-generation Mepham graduate,” he said. “That’s what’s special about this community –– people grow up here, and they want to stay here.”

The Pirates beat the Kennedy Cougars in the Homecoming football game 27-7.