Rockville Centre Police Commissioner Charles Gennario is this year’s Memorial Day grand marshal
Join your neighbors as Rockville Centre Police Commissioner Charles Gennario, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, leads the annual Memorial Day Parade down Maple Avenue at 10 a.m. on May 28 to Veterans Memorial Park in front of the Recreation Center, where a commemoration will take place at 11 a.m.
In addition to words from the grand marshal, Mayor Francis Murray and a representative from American Legion Post 303, which sponsors the event, are expected to speak. Contingents representing the Rockville Centre police and fire departments, schools, service and sports organizations will participate in the parade and the service.
“I’m very honored to be selected as this year’s grand marshal,” Gennario said. “There are alot of other candidates
more worthy than I.”
Gennario, a Hofstra University alumnus, served 28 years in the Marines. He served on active duty from 1979-84, was activated for Desert Shield/Desert Storm from 1990-91 and was in the Marine Corps Reserves until 2008. While in the military, Gennario’s commands included infantry rifle and mortar platoons and a hazardous materials unit. He was also an infantry company commander and a recruit series commander as well as an operations staff officer and liaison officer to NATO, South American and Caribbean forces.
A police officer from 1986 to 1998, a sergeant and patrol supervisor from 1998 to 2003 and a lieutenant and commanding officer of patrol from 2003 to 2010, Gennario is also a firearms and police development instructor as well as an experienced narcotics investigator.
Gennario has been a martial arts instructor at the Rockville Centre Recreation Center and the Nassau County Police Athletic League. He has completed courses in the Department of Homeland Security’s Weapons of Mass Destruction and Field Intelligence units. His military training included the Basic Officers Course, Amphibious Warfare School, Command and Staff Course, Incident Command, Emergency Management and Chemical and Biological Emergency Response.
