Residents, community groups, veterans organizations and local officials lined Hempstead Turnpike last month for the 18th annual Paul Sapienza Elmont/Belmont Parade, a longtime tradition that celebrates community pride and honors the legacy of Paul Sapienza, the late former president of the Elmont Chamber of Commerce and one of Elmont’s most respected civic leaders.
The parade, held this year on May 30, is held each year in conjunction with Belmont Stakes festivities, and additionally recognizes the community with pride and to celebrate the area’s horse racing history.
This year's parade carried special significance as Nassau County Police Officer Patricia Espinosa was honored posthumously as grand marshal. Espinosa, a member of the Fifth Precinct, died earlier this year after she was struck by an alleged drunk driver.
The procession stepped off at 10 a.m. with Espinosa's police vehicle leading the route. According to Ralph Esposito, director of the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency, the turnout was phenomenal, “schools, American Legion, the VFW, they all came.”
Esposito said that they placed a grand marshal sign across the windshield of her vehicle as a tribute.
Espinosa's family joined the procession, along with many of her fellow officers. Esposito said members of the Fifth Precinct turned out in large numbers to honor their colleague's memory.
Esposito said that Espinosa’s family were really impressed in response to the parade,
The annual parade drew more than 1,000 spectators and participants, according to Esposito, demonstrating the community's continued support for the event nearly two decades after it began.
State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said the parade remains one of Elmont's most cherished traditions.
“The Paul Sapienza Elmont/Belmont Parade is one of the best traditions our community continues to offer, and that is evident in the number of residents who show up year after year, regardless of where the Belmont Stakes are being held,” Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said.
She said this year's tribute to Espinosa and her family added an emotional element to the celebration.
“This year's parade felt especially meaningful with the honoring of Patricia Espinosa and her family as Grand Marshal,” Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said. “Walking down Hempstead Turnpike alongside her family and fellow officers, and hearing the countless stories of how she impacted this community, was deeply emotional, and I couldn't think of anyone more deserving of this recognition than Officer Espinosa and her family.”
Sapienza, for whom the parade is named, was widely known for his commitment to Elmont and its business community. During his tenure as president of the Elmont Chamber of Commerce, he helped foster economic growth and strengthen relationships among residents, businesses and civic organizations.
Eighteen years after the parade was established in his memory, the event continues to unite the community while recognizing individuals whose service and dedication have left a lasting mark on Elmont.
For many in attendance, this year's parade served as both a celebration of local pride and a heartfelt tribute to an officer whose legacy will continue to inspire the community she served.
