13th annual Freeport Cares Peace March sends unifying message

The Freeport Public Schools and Freeport Cares held their 13th annual Peace March Saturday with students, local officials, residents and faculty walking in advocacy of peace and against violence, prejudice and injustice.

Faculty members, students and parents, as well as residents, crowded the Freeport High School sports field at 9 a.m. to show support of the peaceful message.

Before the event, the school’s marching band tuned instruments at one side of the movable platform stage. The Junior ROTC color guard waited with anticipation at the other side.

“The peace march really is an activity to give back to the community,” said 16-year-old JROTC member Julio Frómeta Gomez, “especially with all the problems happening in this society.”

JROTC member and marching band drummer Cameron Roulhac agreed. “This parade is smaller compared to the Memorial Day parade,” he said, “but I still find this important to raise awareness.”

“I like being in the band,”  said 14-year-old drummer Jaiden Gentles, “because it’s a chance for a lot of students to come together as a group to really stimulate awareness to a collective group of people.”

The morning was sunny and warm, which was a big difference from the originally scheduled date of May 7, when heavy rain dominated the day.

The Freeport Public Schools and Freeport Cares held their 13th annual Peace March Saturday with students, local officials, residents and faculty walking in advocacy of peace and against violence, prejudice and injustice.

Faculty members, students and parents, as well as residents, crowded the Freeport High School sports field at 9 a.m. to show support of the peaceful message.

Before the event, the school’s marching band tuned instruments at one side of the movable platform stage. The Junior ROTC color guard waited with anticipation at the other side.

“The peace march really is an activity to give back to the community,” said 16-year-old JROTC member Julio Frómeta Gomez, “especially with all the problems happening in this society.”

JROTC member and marching band drummer Cameron Roulhac agreed. “This parade is smaller compared to the Memorial Day parade,” he said, “but I still find this important to raise awareness.”

“I like being in the band,”  said 14-year-old drummer Jaiden Gentles, “because it’s a chance for a lot of students to come together as a group to really stimulate awareness to a collective group of people.”

The morning was sunny and warm, which was a big difference from the originally scheduled date of May 7, when heavy rain dominated the day.

Many parents were especially happy to be out alongside their children for the event.

“I’m marching to show support for a good cause—to be involved in a community thing.” said Ebony Roulhac, Cameron’s mother.

School officials and elected representatives assembled on the stage. School Superintendent Kishore Kuncham introduced the JROTC color guard, who led the Pledge of Allegiance.

“Recent events of mass shootings go against everything that the teachings of nonviolence and peace stand for,” said Dr. Kuncham. “It is up to us to promote tolerance and strive for harmony.”

He went on to thank Freeport Cares, the school and community organization that sponsors the Peace March.

The Atkinson Choir, comprised of 16 fifth-graders, directed by Stephanie Arnell, delivered a melodically strong rendition of “Put a Little Love in Your Heart.” As the applause died down, the high school band struck up the national anthem. Then other officials spoke.

“Let’s be change makers  just like our students are,” said school board president Maria Jordan-Awalom, “and let’s keep peace in our schools and in our village and in our county.”

Assemblywoman Judy Griffin told the crowd that throughout Assembly District 21, Freeport is the only district that conducted a peace march.

County legislator and Freeport resident Debra Mulé quoted a church song that ends, “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me,” adding, “That’s what we really need to do, is let peace begin with us.”

“The one belief that we all share is the belief that we have responsibilities to something greater than ourselves,” said Legislator Steve Rhoads, “to make our corner of the world a little bit better, a little more peaceful, a little brighter.”

Dorothy Goosby, the Town of Hempstead senior councilwoman and deputy town supervisor said, “Let’s remember who people are. We all want to be treated the same as everyone else.”

Before the start of the parade, the crowd gathered along the gray lines that defined an enormous peace sign on the field. Everyone stood within the giant collective pose, which was photographed by drone, courtesy of town photographer Antonio Kelley.

Parade marshal Kevin Randazzo, director of facilities for the Freeport School District, called everyone to their school groups to line up, carrying their signs. Moving out into the driveway that passes in front of the high school, the crowd processed through a bobbing arch made of yellow balloons.

Many wore yellow shirts from the 10th annual march, and most had pinned on small yellow peace bows created by Freeport’s Girl Scout troops specifically for the march.

The group of about 200 flowed onto Pine Street, where a Freeport Police Department vehicle led the march, with two public works department trucks and another Freeport police vehicle bringing up the rear.

Participants were in high spirits, walking in and out of the shade provided by tall, generous trees. Students clustered in chatty groups. Families pushed strollers.

Having followed the route down South Bayview Avenue, along Merrick Road, and back up Brookside Avenue to the high school, the marchers gladly received bottles of water and granola bars from Kuncham and other school district faculty.