West Islip FD Getting Set for Summer March

This Monday, community members and organizations will honor those veterans who sacrificed their lives by taking part in the annual Memorial Day parade. Members of the West Islip Fire Department plan on taking part in Monday's parade and are also in midst of planning a parade that will take place later this summer.

On August 14, the West Islip Fire Department will take its turn in hosting the annual parade that involves all 20 fire departments in the Town of Islip as well as some from the Town of Babylon. The parade, which will begin at 6 p.m. on Udall Road near the south service road of Sunrise Highway and end at the firehouse on Union Boulevard, will be followed by a carnival that will go until 11:30 p.m.

West Islip Fire Department Assistant Chief Blaise Gemellaro said plans for parade began being made as far back as December. At Tuesday's meeting of the Islip Town Board, the board approved co-sponsorship of the parade.

Gemellaro said it will be fun event that will give departments a chance to compete against each other during the parade as well as the departments' marching bands to compete against each other in the Battle of the Drums.

Of course, the community is invited to support the West Islip Fire Department. "It's a fun night. Firemen get an opportunity to bring their families," said Gemellaro. "We'll have no problem getting people to come."