Patchogue’s Main Street blossomed into a tapestry of red, white, and blue as the Lions Club Fourth of July Parade unfurled under a sunny summer morning. A local tradition since 1947, the parade has become a signature celebration of our nation’s birth.
This year, the parade marched under the civic pride of Mayor Paul Pontieri, proudly serving as Grand Marshal. He was accompanied by state Assembly members Joe DeStefano and Jarett Gandolfo, Senator Dean Murray, Suffolk Comptroller John Kennedy, Legislator Dominick Thorne, and Village Trustee Jack Krieger—waving to cheering spectators, and soaking in the hometown spirit along the way.
The Patchogue Fire Department rumbled through with antique apparatus and modern rigs, cheered on by enthusiastic crowds celebrating the nation’s 249th birthday. Reenactors with the Willis Company Volunteers from Hempstead participated, along with the Jayne-Lattin VFW, Great South Bay Lions, Knights of Columbus, Long Island Aquarium, Patchogue Ambulance, AmVets Post 111, and American Legion Post 269, to name a few.
The parade honors the enduring ideals that shaped our country in 1776: liberty, sacrifice, and unity. It echoes celebrations across America—much like the famed Bristol, Rhode Island event dating back to 1785—underscoring the deep-rooted tradition of marking Independence Day with community processions, music, and remembrance.
From its beginnings in baby-themed pageantry in the 1920s, through wartime tributes in the 1940s, to today’s full-fledged patriotic gala, Patchogue’s celebration has reflected changing times while preserving a core message: that freedom is born of collective effort and enduring respect for our heritage.
On Main Street this July, Mayor Pontieri and the other local leaders didn’t just lead a procession—they led a community in celebrating freedom’s promise with heartfelt waves, proud uniforms, stirring music, and the timeless rhythm of a village united in gratitude.