Sheriff Salutes Heroes In 'Thank You' Parade

RIVERHEAD, NY — With an eye toward saluting front line heroes, Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon will participate in a "Thank You" parade Thursday, which will make a stop in Riverhead after kicking off in Port Jefferson.

The parade, which will include deputies, correction officers, police and fire departments, will head to two Suffolk County hospitals to "show appreciation for all the hard-working men and women working tirelessly, day and night, at both Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson and Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead," Toulon said.

The parades, which will include various sheriff’s office vehicles, trucks, and motorcycles, along with vehicles from fire departments and police departments, will first drive past Mather Hospital, located at 75 North Country Road in Port Jefferson, at 11:30 a.m., Toulon said.

The parade will then head to Peconic Bay Medical Center, located at 1300 Roanoke Avenue in Riverhead, at 2:30 p.m.

In between the parades, Toulon will be heading to the Riverhead County Center at 1 p.m., where he will be participating in the county’s COVID-19 antibody testing program.

Toulon, a release said, believes that it is important for all county employees to be screened for the presence of antibodies in the event that it provides a level of immunity to the virus; the positive presence of COVID-19 antibodies also enables that person to donate plasma with the hope that this plasma could be used to help patients who are symptomatic, the release added.