By Sari Zeidler
"It was a beautiful turnout and beautiful weather," Robert Tom Riordan, past county commander who co-chaired the parade with Post Commander Philip Williams, said of the warm-weather procession.
The Merrick Fire Department, North Merrick Fire Department, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Little Leagues made up the parade that was grand-marshaled by Nassau County Legislator Dave Denenberg. Bill Korbel, a North Merrick resident, evening meteorologist for News Channel 12 Long Island, Air Force veteran and recently enrolled member of Post 1282, offered the day's keynote address. On the dais were New York State Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr., North Merrick School District Superintendent David Feller, President of the Merrick American Legion Auxiliary Lucy Murphy, Merrick Fire Chief Thomas Fernandez, North Merrick Fire Chief Dale Carbone, former Merrick fire chief Jack Diamondstein and Jewish War Veterans Commander David Zwerin.
Post members Joseph Ambrosino and Vincent Gabriele led the annual 11th hour ceremony marking the end of World War I and John Murphy, Barbara Byrne and Leonard Tucker read the 41 names of local residents who were killed in action from World War II to the Iraq War.Comments about this story? SZeidler@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
