BAY RIDGE — The 141st Kings County Memorial Day Parade kicks off in Bay Ridge at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 26, 2008. All participants should report to the parade marshals on 87th Street and Third Avenue at 9:30 a.m. The route of the parade travels along Third Avenue to Marine Avenue up to Fourth Avenue and concludes in John Paul Jones Park on 101st Street and Fourth Avenue. Immediately after the parade, there will be a ceremony in the park, to honor those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

The grand marshal is chief of department Salvatore Cassano, FDNY. Chief Cassano has been with the FDNY for over 39 years. He is an Army veteran and served a tour of duty in Vietnam from 1966-67. The Honorary Grand Marshals are Borough President Marty Markowitz and state Senator Marty Golden. “Wounded Warriors� from Walter Reed Army Medical Center are the honored guests. The reviewing officer is Lt. Col. Paul Cook, commander of the US Army New York City Recruiting Battalion; and the Memorial Day speaker is Lee Burch, a member of the Brooklyn “Key� Chapter American ex-prisoners of War, the lead organization this year.

The parade is the oldest and longest continuously run parade in the nation. Originally running along Eastern Parkway, the parade has been held in Bay Ridge for the past 17 years.

Participants include all veteran organizations in Brooklyn: the Veterans of Foreign Wars; American Legion; Catholic War Veterans; Jewish War Veterans; Korean War Veterans; Vietnam Veterans of America; Gulf War Veterans; Disabled American Veterans; the Military Order of the Purple Heart; American Ex-Prisoners of War — Brooklyn Key Chapter; Women Veterans of America; 715 Veteran Association; Rolling Thunder; the Hispanic War Veterans of America; American Merchant Marine Veterans; Marine Corps League; NY Naval Militia; Nam Knights; NY Guard; and the Reserve Officers Association.

Other groups include the NYPD; FDNY; NYC Parks Department; the National Guard; Iron Workers Local 361; International Union of Operating Engineers and other labor organizations; the Bay Ridge Community Council; CERT 1 and many Brooklyn civic organizations; the Boy and Girl Scouts; Sea Cadets: the Tiger Battalion of the Junior ROTC at Fort Hamilton High School; and other patriotic youth organizations.

The NYPD Auxiliary Marching Band and many Brooklyn High School bands including the Fort Hamilton Marching Regiment will be in the line of march. The Xaverian Band will provide music during the ceremony in the park.

The ceremony will also include performances by the USO of Metropolitan New York and retired Army Sgt. Louis Licalzi. There will also be a wreath laying by Veteran Service Organizations, a flag raising, a 21 gun-salute by the Fort Hamilton Army Garrison Honor Guard, and the playing of Taps by Dean Bonsignore and Richard Cuccurullo of the Fort Hamilton High School Marching Regiment.

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