Sometimes neighborhood parades can be just as good or better than some of the parades in the city. This is one of them. The Staten Island Memorial Day Parade is one of the oldest parades in the city and celebrated its 103 birthday in grand style. There was an excitement at the start of the parade route by Hart Boulevard and Forest Ave. with marchers saluting each other and ready to march. The mounted police and NYPD Marching Band kicked off the parade at noon. Their patriotic tune was soon drowned out by the hundreds of bikers from Rolling Thunder. They got the crowd worked up for a fun day on the parade route on Forest Ave.
Memorial Day weekend always has Navy sailors in town due to Fleet Week and a group marched in the parade to honor those we lost. A small group of Marines joined in followed by the Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums band. Another group that made some waves were the Richmond County Pipes and Drum band. Several floats paid homage to those that have fallen in different wars. One in particular honored 13 soldiers that perished in Kabul, Afghanistan on August 26, 2021. A very touching moment was when a widow of a Veteran held a blown up picture of her husband, Willie Pride, with so much affection. Of course a parade isn’t a parade without a marching band. Some of Staten Islands best showed up and represented. Susan Wagner HS Marching Band was pretty good. But the show stealer was the Tottenville HS Marching Band.
This parade boasts some of the best car collections in the city. The Corvettes Stingray club revved up their engines for the crowd. Some really nice antique cars made their way to the parade. The crowd was showing lots of love and thanks to all the marchers. Staten Islanders are smart and strong people. They don’t need to be reminded that all the freedoms we enjoy today are because of the sacrifice our fallen heroes made for us and our country. When it comes to showing their patriotism, Staten Island does it right.
NYC Parade Life 