Malverne celebrates Memorial Day

With summer-like temperatures and beautiful, sunny skies, hundreds of village residents came out on May 28 for Malverne’s annual Memorial Day Parade, led this year by Grand Marshal and Commander Robert Guarneri of American Legion Malverne Post No. 44.

Members of the American Legion Post No. 44, American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post No. 44 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1073 marched in the procession, along with Malverne Boy and Girl Scouts and members of the local fire department and Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

Various community organizations, including the Moms of Malverne, Malverne Little League and the Malverne Historical Society, also participated. In addition, the Federation of Black Cowboys, new to the event, led off the third division of the parade on horseback.

This year, the parade kicked off at 10:00 a.m., a full hour earlier from the routine start time of 11:00 a.m., and commenced at the Chester A. Reese Veterans Memorial Park on Church Street, and headed west down Hempstead Avenue. This year’s program included moving the opening ceremony from the start of the parade to its conclusion, back at the Chester A. Reese Gazebo area. The ceremony included the placing of the commemorative wreath, along with remarks from Guarneri and village Mayor Patricia Ann McDonald, among others.

Guarneri said it was a privilege to serve as Grand Marshal, and was honored to be a part of the annual event. “Each year we join our country in commemorating the military men and women who died to protect our nation’s freedom,” he said during the ceremony. “We celebrate their courage, their fortitude, their willingness to serve and we salute the courage to those left behind, the friends, the family and fellow soldiers.”

The parade also included the St. Anthony High School Celtic Friar Pipe Band, state championship-winning Malverne High School Marching Band, Howard T. Herber Middle School Marching Band and the Malverne Fire Department Marching Band, all of which provided patriotic, upbeat music as the parade moved along.

While some residents marched in the parade, others, including Daniel Butler, a resident of 40 years, lined the streets waving small American flags. “Every year I make it a point to come out, ” said Butler. “Memorial Day is very precious to me.”

McDonald echoed similar sentiments, and said that the annual event continues to bring the community together to honor those fallen veterans.

“We are all together in honoring the great patriots who came before us,” McDonald said. “Memorial Day is unique, as we are celebrating the most important gift — the supreme sacrifice that our fellow Americans have made so we are able to keep our freedom. There is no greater love than those who have given their lives for us.”