Community

Photos: Riverhead lines the streets for Memorial Day Parade

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The annual Memorial Day Parade was held in Riverhead Monday morning. (Credit: Grant Parpan photos)

As the parade of veterans reached the corner of Main Street and Peconic Avenue, the dozens of residents who set up camp at that location for a prime view of the annual event began to clap their hands in tribute.

Then a booming voice rose above the rest of the sounds at the intersection.

“Thank you for your service,” a man yelled.

It is in the spirit of remembering our veterans — the dead and the living – that the Riverhead community lines its streets each Memorial Day for the town’s annual parade.

Led by American Legion commander and Combined Veterans Association chairman Mike Pankowski and Joe Edler of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the parade featured hundreds of marchers and even more onlookers along the parade route that extended from Pulaski Street School to Main Street and Roanoke Avenue.

Among those participating with the veterans in the March were local scouts; the high school NJROTC and marching band; state, county and town elected officials; religious leaders; and police, fire and ambulance volunteers.

The parade began and ended at Pulaski Street School, with stops at the World War I Memorial, the Riverhead firehouse and Riverhead Cemetery.

See more photos from various points on the parade route.