Elmont VFW Post 1033 kicked off Memorial Day on May 26 with its annual parade, honoring military members who lost their lives in the line of duty, as well as those who died after their service.
Parade participants lined up at the Sewanhaka High School parking lot before marching onto Tulip Avenue and turning onto Covert Avenue. The procession continued south on Covert, turned onto Hempstead Turnpike, and ended in the Elmont Memorial Library parking lot.
Among the groups marching were Elmont veterans, the American Legion Riders of VFW Post 1033, the Sewanhaka and Elmont high school marching bands, Girl Scout Troop 1335, officers from the Nassau County Police Department’s Fifth Precinct, members of the New York Racing Association, Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, local community groups including Meera Empowerment, and children from the Gateway Youth Organization, Peer Assistance and Leadership, and Police Athletic League programs.
Legion riders assisted Elmont Fire District personnel and police officers in blocking traffic for the 30-minute parade.
“The whole community comes out and supports us,” said Lecia Rodriques-Whyte, commander of Post 1033.
Following the parade, Rodriques-Whyte led a Memorial Day service in front of the library, beginning with a prayer and moment of silence for fallen soldiers.
Speeches followed from Ralph Esposito, director of the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency; Vinny Annunziata, a Post 1033 member and this year’s grand marshal; and Michaelle Solages.
Rodriques-Whyte said Post 1033 began planning the event three months ago, coordinating with the precinct, fire district, library, and two schools to ensure permits were secured and all groups could participate.
Rodriques-Whyte, who enlisted in 1985 and served in the Army for 22 years, said the day is emotional for her. While many associate Memorial Day with parades and barbecues, for her, it is a solemn reminder of fellow service members she served alongside in Iraq.
“You see a lot of people who die,” she said. “It’s really impactful to remember all these veterans and the things they endure during war. So it’s really hard for me on Memorial Day.”
Despite the difficulty, she said she does her best to support fellow veterans, who in turn support her—an idea echoed by Esposito during his speech.
“The Elmont community is the place that I love,” Esposito said. “We’re so diversified in how much unity we have here.”
Rodriques-Whyte said Annunziata was chosen as grand marshal in recognition of his ongoing support for Post 1033 through food and supply donations. A Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam with platoon 110 in 1968, Annunziata said one-third of his unit died in combat.
“I think about them every day,” he said. “I think about what they did for this country.”
Community appreciation for veterans and the annual Memorial Day parade remains a staple in Elmont.
Kerrian Coombs, who attended the parade with her husband, Andre, and son, Kal-el, said her family has participated for 25 consecutive years.
While Kal-el typically marches with Elmont Memorial High School, this year he chose to cheer from the sidelines—his favorite part being the fire trucks, she said.
As an Elmont resident for 27 years, Coombs said the parade is a meaningful way to honor veterans. Her father served in the Army for more than 25 years.
“We’re all about service,” she said. “We’re all about supporting the community that does so much for us and puts their lives on the line every day.”
