Brooks to lead Baldwin Memorial Day parade

State Sen. John Brooks, who represents parts of Baldwin Harbor, will be the grand marshal for the Baldwin Memorial Day parade May 27. Brooks, of Seaford, served with the Rainbow Division of the New York Army Reserve National Guard and is the chairman of the State Senate’s Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs.

Since being named to the post, he’s pushed bills to benefit veterans — including a proposal that would grant military personnel serving in combat zones exemptions up to $12,000 in property taxes, and legislation to make spouses, children and dependents of military members who have died in any capacity — not just combat — eligible for State scholarships.

The Baldwin Memorial Day parade, presented by the American Legion Post #246, will step off at 8:55 a.m. at the old Pathmark parking lot on Grand Avenue and proceed south, concluding with a Memorial Day ceremony at Silver Lake Park shortly after 11 a.m.

The World War I memorial at the park was recently renovated, after the American Legion was able to obtain a grant from the United States World War I Centennial Commission and the Veterans of Foreign Wars organizations. The grants were handed out months before the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, which marked the end of World War I.