Long Beach Waterfront Warriors return for annual run and parade | Herald Community Newspapers

By Wesley Schnell

The Long Beach Waterfront Warriors held their annual 5K race on the morning of July 19, followed by a parade down Beech Street, from Ohio Avenue to New York Avenue, with a community barbecue at Long Beach Catholic School to finish off the all-day event.

“The 5K race was great, the barbecue was great and the parade was great,” Waterfront Warriors President Gerald Snell said. “It was a beautiful turnout by the people of Long Beach.”

The Waterfront Warriors’ main mission is to honor veterans and their families, providing aid and assistance where they can. The Long Beach Waterfront Warriors brings ill and injured veterans, and their families, to Long Beach for a relaxing vacation to enjoy a variety of local activities, from fishing to surfing to simply enjoying the iconic boardwalk. They also provide assistance to veterans hospitals and other institutions.

Through donations and fundraisers, the Waterfront Warriors are able to provide transportation, lodging and meals to the veterans in their program. Through special beach and ocean activities, the Waterfront Warriors bring families together allowing them to spend time with their loved ones with a temporary reprieve from the stresses of recovery.

“In Long Beach, tons of people volunteer their time for many causes,” Snell said. “There’s plenty of people in Long Beach that are almost compelled to help these charities and help people in the neighborhood.”

The afternoon parade brought people together from throughout the town, including the Long Beach City Council and local legislators, and included a special flyover by the Nassau County Police Department. Local firetrucks; motorcycle packs, including the FDNY Fire Riders; and vehicles from the 34.3 Foundation — dedicated to the FDNY crews lost on 9/11 — all took part in the street takeover.

“It’s an uplifting event,” Snell stated. “It shows the spirit of the city of Long Beach. There are tons of charities and the whole community comes out for all of them. You can see it at all these events as the people come out to participate and volunteer to help.”