Nassau County holds Memorial Day tributes to fallen troops with parade, moment of silence: ‘Say a prayer for them'
Nassau County paused in solemn tribute this Memorial Day honoring Long Island's fallen troops with a county-wide moment of silence, a patriotic parade, and heartfelt words from veterans and elected officials alike.
County Executive Bruce Blakeman, alongside members of the county legislature — spoke to a crowd of roughly 150 people in Glen Cove Monday afternoon, honoring the area's historic veteran population for the third year in a row.
'This is the day where we remember those who died in the line of duty defending our country,' Blakeman told The Post. 'Say a prayer for them, for their soul, for their families.'
6 Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman marching in the Memorial Day parade in Glen Cove on May 26, 2025.
Brandon Cruz/NY Post
6 Blakeman was joined by other Long Island officials for a county-wide moment of silence for fallen troops.
Brandon Cruz/NY Post
Veterans and civilian residents alike came to the ceremony to honor those who gave their life for the country.
Michael Renga, a 17-year-old high school student from Glen Cove who was rocking a full-blown American Flag suit jacket, said the county's celebration is important to him and his 'patriot family.'
'We enjoy this weekend for being the unofficial start to summer, but these ceremonies are important so we can reflect on what the day truly means and how much sacrifice has gone into protecting the freedoms that we have,' Renga, whose grandfather served in World War II, told The Post.
But the day means more to those who served — like Howard Stillwagon, a disabled combat veteran who fought in Vietnam.
6 Blakeman encouraged county residents to keep the fallen soldiers in their prayers.
Brandon Cruz/NY Post
6 Nassau County residents waiving flags during the Glen Cove parade.
Brandon Cruz/NY Post
'I saw about 20 soldiers get killed over in my time in the jungle,' Stillwagon solemnly remembered. 'It really bothered me to see them in a bag going home to their families.'
'It's a party day full of barbeques, but you have to stop and think of the guys that sacrificed their lives.'
After the ceremony, Stillwagon led his troop of local combat veterans in the city's parade alongside Blakeman down Glen Cove's Main Street — where businesses were offering deals and specials after the march.
6 Blakeman shaking hands with 95-year-old Ben Farnan — the oldest veteran in the parade.
Brandon Cruz/NY Post
6 Blakeman greeting local Vietnam vet Howard Stillwagon and his service dog Cruiser.
Brandon Cruz/NY Post
A second county-wide moment of silence was scheduled for 6 p.m. later that day, alerting residents with church bells and fire alarms from departments and houses of worship all over Nassau.
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Bannon, who has pushing for Musk to be deported despite him being a naturalized American citizen since 2002, added claims that Gor was at the root of the clash were 'absolutely ludicrous' 'This is all about the behavior … the incompetence, the lack of performance, the drugs which President Trump is very upset about, all of it, of Elon Musk,' Bannon said. Although the White House was rife with tension for months with Musk and Gor 'hating each other,' the bad feeling never spiraled out of hand until Thursday, when Trump and Musk went at each other with personal attacks. Although Musk's criticisms of the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' gained significant attention, the president was chummy with the tech mogul on his last day in government May 30 — despite clips circulating for three days of the billionaire telling 'CBS Sunday Morning' that 'I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful but I don't know if it can be both.' As part of the send-off, Trump and Musk praised each other in the Oval Office, with the latter receiving an ornate key to the White House. Only after Isaacman's nomination was pulled Saturday night did the tit-for-tat build, with Musk calling the bill a 'disgusting abomination' Tuesday. The fight erupted further Thursday as Trump contended he would have won the election even without Musk's help and the businessman firing back that the Jeffrey Epstein files contain information on the president. 'The NASA guy was the straw that broke the camel's back,' one White House source said, arguing that Gor wanted 'to bury the knife in [Musk's] back.' 5 Elon Musk embraces Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show fairgrounds on October 05, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Getty Images Musk is not the only White House figure to cross Gor, according to this source, who added that the personnel boss helped far-right activist Laura Loomer gain a meeting with Trump in the Oval Office, after which six National Security Council officials were fired — while national security adviser Mike Waltz was moved out to become ambassador to the United Nations. 'There's just one staffer that's in the middle of every drama, leak and chaos that exists. It's been a detriment to the president and the organization,' they said. 'We've bounced basically two billionaires from the party and from the movement, because Sergio doesn't like them. And what does that do for anyone, or the cause?' White House Communications Director Steven Cheung called Gor 'a vital member of the team and he has helped President Trump put together an administration that is second to none.' But one source close to the White House said that illumination of the roots of the Trump-Musk feud could help prevent potentially devastating political consequences for Republicans. 'I think it will help,' the insider said. 'If Elon understands that this was not the president that was going after him and that the president was played by Sergio, I think Elon might look at it as an opportunity to say, 'Ok, let's put this s— to bed. And this guy thinks he's going to get me? I'm going to get him.''
