Memorial Day is a national day of mourning in the U.S. that is meant to honor the men and women who have died while serving in the U.S. military. To honor these individuals and their sacrifices, Lynbrook held its annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 26. The streets of Lynbrook were lined with flags and families as the community gathered to remember together.

The parade began at 9:45 AM on Charles Street, proceeding down Merrick Road and ending at Village Hall. This yearly tradition features a diverse array of local organizations that help remember and show gratitude towards fallen soldiers. The parade included youth sports teams, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the Lynbrook Fire Department, and members of veterans’ organizations.

While the parade is filled with excitement and waving flags, it concludes at the Doughboy Monument, where a solemn ceremony is held to honor fallen heroes. Many members of the community watched the parade, including sophomore Kennett Curtis, who explained the importance of the event: “It’s a good way to honor and remember veterans. It also is a good way to bring the community together and have a joint sense of pride.”

In addition to the town organizations, the Lynbrook Schools played a central role in this parade, as all the school’s bands performed music that honored the fallen veterans. Some major village officials in attendance included Mayor Alan Beach, Superintendent of Lynbrook Schools Dr. Paul Lynch, and LHS Principal Matthew Sarosy. 

LHS’s very own marching band played a key role in this event. Sophomore Javier Casimir, who marched with the group, said, “I think it is important for the band to play in the parade because it reminds us of the fallen soldiers who died in the past.” Casmir added, “We played the National Anthem, and we played it to remember the fallen soldiers.”

Being involved in the parade was very important to sophomore Joseph Wolk, who marched with Boy Scout Troop 336. He explained, “I think it’s important to be a part of a group like Scouts to help show and enhance the message of remembrance of our fallen patriots.” The parade is also very special to the many members of the community who come out to support all the groups that march in the parade. Wolk continued, “I’ve noticed through my years marching with the Scouts, wrestling, and little league that the community loves seeing [the parade] and remembering our patriots. For our future to continue, we need to remember our heroes who fought for our freedoms and the world we get to live in today.”