Getting ready for Memorial Day in Rockville Centre

With Spring finally seeming to grace the area, Rockville Centre is gearing up for its annual Memorial Day Parade on May 26.

The parade will follow the same route as last year: starting at South Side High School, it will march west on Sheperd Street, then head south on Long Beach Road and stop at the John A. Anderson Recreation Centre, located at 111 Oceanside Road.

The route is different from previous years, though, and was changed due to construction on Maple Avenue.

This year’s grand marshal is Rockville Centre resident Dr. Sol Williams, who served in the Army for 16 years.

Williams joined the Army in 1978 and reenlisted twice. After his second reenlistment, he went to Officer Candidate School and later became an officer.

“It’s very hard for someone to go in as an enlisted man and then be selected to go into the officer program,” said Joe Scarolla, Post Commander of the Rockville Centre American Legion. “They really take the cream of the crop. And for him to have done that is exceptional.”

While serving as an officer, Williams started attending school. Two years ago, he finished his work and received his PhD in psychology.

Williams left the army in 1994. Today, he works as a psychology professor at the Gay Men’s Health Crisis in Manhattan, and as an adjunct professor at both NYU and Stony Brook University.

“I’m very excited,” Williams said of being named grand marshal. “I’ve been doing the parade for many years, and I try to do as many parades as possible. But this will be the first one I led.”

Williams said he’s looking forward to leading the parade and hopes that the community will come out in support of its veterans.

“It’s always a plus when you can get the community involved in things,” he said.