Bellmore and Merrick veterans plan alternative Memorial Day celebration

Members of the American Legion Post 1749 and the Jewish War Veterans Post 652 will be celebrating Memorial Day with social-distancing in mind. 

On Monday, May 25, the veterans will participate in a car parade beginning at 9:30 in the Nassau Coliseum parking lot (located at 185 Charles Lindberg Blvd.).

The parade will conclude at the Veteran Memorial at Eisenhower Park. 

Those participating in the parade are encouraged to arrive at the parking lot by 9 a.m. 

"We have to think of different ways to do things now," said Gary Glick, commander of the JWV Post 652. "We have to be creative." 

In his daily briefing on Tuesday, Governor Cuomo said that New York state will allow Memorial Day ceremonies to take place this coming weekend.

Ceremonies must, however, be limited to 10 or fewer people, and social distancing — standing six feet apart — must be maintained to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Cuomo also encouraged car parades to honor the fallen on Memorial Day, which will be marked officially on Monday, May 25, although the dates of ceremonies and parades may vary from community to community.