Rockville Centre Village hosts Fourth Battalion parade

Rockville Centre residents lined the streets last weekend to watch as the Fourth Battalion Fire Department Parade marched through town.

The parade kicked off at 6 p.m. on June 23, featuring the fire departments of the Fourth Battalion district — Rockville Centre, Lynbrook, East Rockaway, Lakeview and Malverne — and others around the state.

Of the departments in attendance, Hurleyville Fire Department made the longest journey, traveling 115 miles to march. The HFD worked closely with the Rockville Centre Fire Department in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Also in attendance at the parade were Town of Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen, Councilman Anthony D’Esposito, and Mayor Francis X. Murray. And for the third year in a row, the Rockville Centre firefighters took home the first place prize of the judged component of the parade.

Rockville Centre Fire Chief Brian Cook said the parade went off without a hitch, and shed light on the important contributions of New York’s firefighters.

“It’s really thanks to the men and women of these fire departments that we were able to have such a successful parade,” he said.