Fire departments from all over the area participate in annual event
This year, the Port Washington Fire Department was honored to host the 2012 Nassau County Parade and Drill, which included more than 70 fire departments from the area. The annual event concluded with a parade and block party, held on Saturday evening, July 14.
Competitive drills were held at the Denton Avenue Training Facility at Michael J. Tully Park in New Hyde Park on Friday evening, July 13 and Saturday morning. The Port Washington Fire Department provided the following results from the Motorized Tournament: Westbury Turtles, 1st place; West Hempstead Westerners, 2nd place; Port Washington Road Runners, 3rd place; Roslyn Highlanders, 4th place and New Hyde Park Termites, 5th place. Results from the Old Fashioned Drill Team Tournament were: Malverne Chipmunks, 1st place; Freeport Nighthawks, 2nd place; Rockville Centre Woodlands, 3rd place; Oyster Bay Teddy Boys, 4th place and Lynbrook Tumblers, 5th place. The winning fire departments displayed their trophies on trucks during the parade.
Donald Alexander, former captain of the PWFD Protection Engine Company No. 1, was the master of ceremonies at the reviewing stand during the parade. Hundreds of old and new firetrucks, ambulances and fire chief vehicles rolled down Port Washington Boulevard, onto Main Street, and then to the Long Island Railroad parking lot across the street from the Flower Hill Hose Company on Captain Robert H. Dayton Way (Haven Avenue), where the block party was held.
In addition to fire departments in Nassau County, parade participants included the Fire Riders of Nassau County, the Nassau County Fire Commission, and the Nassau County Firemen’s Association, of which James Interdonati, former PWFD fire chief, is the new president. Bands, such as the Nassau County Firefighters Pipes and Drums Band, the Thomas O’Shaughnessy Memorial Pipe Band, the Gordon Highlanders from Locust Valley, the Nassau County Police Emerald Society Pipe Band and the Nassau County Firefighters Pipes and Drums Band marched along with the fire departments.
New York State Drill Teams announced the results of the parade on their website, nysdrillteams.com. Best Appearing Fire Department, Category A, went to Lakeview (1st place), North Merrick (2nd place) and Roosevelt (3rd place). Best Appearing Department, Category B, went to North Massapequa (1st place), North Bellmore (2nd place) and Syosset (3rd place).
The Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department won 1st place for Best Appearing Fire Department Drill Team.
For Best Appearing Fire Department Juniors, Floral Park won 1st place, Great Neck Alert Fire Company won 2nd place and Massapequa won 3rd place.
Best Appearing Ladies Auxiliary went to North Bellmore (1st place), Elmont (2nd place) and East Meadow (3rd place).
For Best Appearing Commercial Musical Unit, the Tappan Zee Bridgeman, who marched with the Westbury Fire Department, won 1st place.
