Nassau County celebrated the 100th anniversary of its police department with what was termed the "largest police parade in the nation" in Wantagh. Thousands attended as officers from various agencies, including the NYPD and local departments, showcased their vehicles and celebrated with speeches and music. Heartfelt remembrances highlighted the participation of families of fallen officers, emphasizing community support and remembrance. The parade concluded at Railroad Avenue, emphasizing a spirit of unity and remembrance among law enforcement personnel.
"It's overwhelming, exciting and bittersweet - having all the departments come together like this to celebrate and remember," said Erika Perlungher, whose husband Matthew Perlungher, a Nassau police officer and Navy veteran, died in 2021 due to an illness connected to his work as a first responder after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
"Nassau County never forgets," she told Newsday. "And as much as you don't want to be here, you have to be here."
The parade - on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the department's creation - ended at Railroad Avenue, where Blakeman and Nassau police Commissioner Patrick Ryder gave speeches from a stage and pipe bands played "Amazing Grace" in honor of fallen officers.
The parade featured hundreds of current and former law enforcement officers, as well as dozens of pieces of equipment - from the antique to the modern and paramilitary.
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