Long Beach commemorates Memorial Day

Thousands of people, many wearing red, white and blue, lined the streets of Long Beach on Monday as Grand Marshal Gerald Hunt led the annual Memorial Day Parade, which began at Ohio Ave. and ended at the reviewing stand in front of City Hall.

Hunt, who joined the U.S. Air Force at age 19, now serves in the reserves. Hunt, 48, of Long Beach, was a Past Commander of the Long Beach American Legion and is the Director of the Troop Packing Program, where he supervised the shipping of over five tons of care packages to the troops to date.

Hunt, along with his wife and four children, led the parade, which he said was, “a great honor; very exciting.”

“When they asked me to be the Grand Marshal I was a little skeptical or hesitant at first because I thought it was an honor that should be bigger than a person, so I said I would accept it on behalf of the military family,” Hunt said.

Families, Hunt said, are the ones who have to bear the brunt at home when a soldier goes away.

“I just think that the family does not get recognized,” Hunt said. “Obviously it’s Memorial Day and we want to celebrate the lives of soldiers who fought and gave their lives, but at the same time their families go on without them.”

Marching in the parade were the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, and Jewish War Veterans, as well as county and state officials and many participating organizations, including Knights of Columbus, Waterfront Warriors and Lions Club. A special ceremony was held in front of the Kennedy Plaza War Memorial to pay homage to those who served their country.

City Manager Jack Schnirman, who served as Master of Ceremonies in his first parade, said, “It was a great event — there was so much community pride. Residents were out showing their support and commemorating the holiday.”

Schnirman said it was “wonderful” to see the waving of American flags and that, “It was a wonderful opportunity to spend time honoring our men and women in uniform with the various organizations throughout the city.”

Hunt said Memorial Day is a great way to maintain awareness of U.S. veterans, but to remember “it’s also about the family.”