Thursday, October 1, 2026
Though there was little relief from the heat Monday morning, residents from across Rockville Centre and Long Island readily gathered to watch the Memorial Day Parade and honor the servicemen and women, past and present, who have risked their lives in order to protect the American way of life.
The 2012 parade’s grand marshal was Rockville Centre Police Chief Charles Gennario, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel. Gennario, a Hofstra University alumnus, served 28 years in the Marines and was on active duty for Desert Shield/Desert Storm from 1990-91.
Gennario led the parade from North Village Avenue east to the Recreation Center on North Oceanside Road, where a commemoration followed at Veterans Park. Joining him at the start of the event were Mayor Francis Murray, Deputy Mayor Nancy Howard and trustees Kevin Glynn, Ed Oppenheimer and Michael Sepe.
The South Side High School band, along with a number of village clubs, organizations and residents, lined up behind the parade line of local politicians and village representatives. Local Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, along with the Rockville Centre Little League and Tea Party Patriots were among those who marched in the parade.
Members of the Rockville Centre Fire Department, as well as its color guard and band, were in attendance.
Msgr. William Koenig provided the invocation and benediction for the ceremony, opining the loss of life in wars and defending the idea of patriotism, before Gennario and Murray gave brief speeches.
“There’s nothing happy about Memorial Day. It’s a somber day,” Gennario said to the audience. “It’s a day to commemorate, remember and honor those heroes that paid the ultimate sacrifice. As long as you people are coming here, we will endure as a nation.”
Gennario also made reference to First Lieutenant Ronald Winchester as a hero to the village and the nation. Winchester was a Rockville Centre resident who was killed while in the line of duty in Iraq in September 2004.
“You are making a difference by being here today. You are remembering the sacrifices of our veterans,” Murray said. “Memorial Day is a time for Americans to reconnect with history and to honor the ideals and values that our soldiers stood for, fought for and died for.”
A wreath-laying ceremony was followed by a rifle salute, and a member of the South Side High School band played taps.
“Today we honor those who gave their lives defending our nation’s liberty and freedom,” said Joseph Scarola, Commander of American Legion Post 303. “At this ceremony we remember those who gave their lives for our freedom and safety. Let’s take a few seconds to thank those living today who are ready to do that for us now.”
