Glen Cove's Memorial Day Weekend Festivities

Memorial Day weekend in Glen Cove will be jam-packed with festivities to honor our country’s veterans who fought to protect our freedoms.

Residents can celebrate with a decoration of the city’s war monuments, a church memorial service and a commemorative parade.

Fred LaMere, a decorated U.S. Navy veteran and former Glen Cove police officer, was selected as the 2016 parade honoree.

“This is an esteemed honor and while I don’t feel worthy of such recognition, I am proud of my service to the U.S. Navy and the Glen Cove community,” LaMere said.

Below is the MDW schedule of events:

Decoration of the City’s War Monuments— Sunday, May 29

• 1 p.m. - Monument at Forest Avenue and Ford Street
• 1:30 p.m. - Monument at the Church of St. Rocco
• 2 p.m. - Monument at Elm Avenue and Frost Pond Road
• 3 p.m. - Memorial Church Service honoring the nation’s war dead held at St. Rocco’s Church

Memorial Day Parade Veterans Memorial Park Ceremony—Monday, May 30

• 11 a.m.— The City of Glen Cove Memorial Day ceremonies begin with the Veterans Memorial Park Ceremony which is to be held at Monument Park (Ford St. and Forest Ave.). The parade’s 2016 honoree, Fred LaMere, will be recognized following the ceremonies dedicated to the memory of the nation’s men and women in uniform who made the ultimate sacrifice. This year’s parade Grand Marshal is Michael A. Gonzalez and the Parade Committee Chairman is Mr. James B. Middleton.
• 11:30 a.m.— The Memorial Day Parade will assemble at 11:30 a.m. on the corner of Cottage Row and School Street and will step off at noon.
• 12 p.m.— The Glen Cove Memorial Day Parade begins at Cottage Row and Forest Avenue, then it continues down School Street, left onto Glen Street, right onto Pulaski Street, right onto the Arterial Highway, past the reviewing stand in front of Glen Cove Public Library and ending at Charles Street.

The Memorial Day Parade Committee, whose members represent the VFW, James Donahue Post 34; American Legion Post 76, Young-Simmons American Legion Post 1765 and the Dan Daly Globe and Anchor Detachment (Marine Corps) made the parade honoree and Grand Marshall selections.

About LaMere

• LaMere served in the U.S. Navy from 1955 through 1958 achieving the rank of Quarter Master Second Class. He was stationed on the USS Caloosahatchee A098, a fleet Oiler. LaMere sailed many oceans (including the Caribbean, Mediterranean, North and South Atlantic) and visited 17 countries. He received medals for Good Conduct, National Defense, Exhibitionery, Cold Water and for Three Years at Sea. LaMere was a Glen Cove Police Officer for 26 years and has been a Glen Cove Volunteer Fireman for 56 years and counting. He is the father of six, grandfather of ten and great-grandfather to two.

Photo: City of Glen Cove 2016 Memorial Day Parade Honoree Fred LaMere and his U.S. Navy uniform. Photo Credit: Tab Hauser