Vice Admiral Jack Buono, outgoing superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, was recognized for his service during Great Neck’s Memorial Day ceremony  Monday following a parade down Middle Neck Road.

Buono, whose maritime career has spanned more than 45 years, took the post in 2018. He announced in March that he would be retiring from his post in June. Louise McCann, a retired U.S. Army master sergeant and chair of the Great Neck Memorial Day Parade Committee, wished Buono “fair winds and following seas” ahead of his retirement.

A 1978 graduate of the Merchant Marine Academy, Buono has overseen the graduation of two classes and navigated the school and its cadets through the coronavirus pandemic, while trying to implement parts of a five-year strategic plan he introduced in 2018.

Buono thanked McCann and the entire committee for organizing the annual parade and ceremony, which remind people that the holiday is much more than the kick-off to summer.

“This is the day we celebrate and honor all the men and women who sacrificed their lives in defense of this nation, in defense of our freedoms so that we can be here as a family and enjoy it together,” Buono said.

He said 142 of the academy’s cadet midshipmen died defending their country during World War II.

“Today we hold dear those 142 individuals,” Buono said. “We celebrate them. We keep them fresh in our memory.” He went to say how important it is to celebrate the men and women “willing to give the honor of losing their life for this nation” to preserve our economic and national security.

McCann said it has always personally concerned her when people use the phrase “Happy Memorial Day” since the day is about remembering and honoring those who sacrificed their lives to defend America. It is extremely important, she said, for everyone to recognize the people who died to protect the freedoms of everyone throughout the United States.

“We who are currently serving or have served in the military reflect on this day as a day of respect and reverence to remember the over 1 million American men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of freedom, everyone’s freedom,” McCann said. “It is time that America remembers who gave their lives to insure the freedoms that we all cherish and remember the true meaning of Memorial Day.”

Officials present during the ceremony were state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, state Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti, Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, town Councilwoman Veronica Lurvey, Village of Great Neck Mayor Pedram Bral along with trustees Bart Sobel, Steven Hope and Annie Mendelson, Village of Great Neck Plaza Mayor Ted Rosen, Village of Thomaston Mayor Steven Weinberg along with trustees Karen Siegel and Aaron Halpern, Great Neck Board of Education President Rebecca Sassouni along with trustees Barbara Berkowitz and Donna Peirez and others.

The parade down Middle Neck Road, ending at the Village Green, featured members of the Great Neck Alert and Great Neck Vigilant Fire companies, cadets of the Merchant Marine Academy, police from the Villages of Great Neck Estates, Kensington and Kings Point, Boy Scout Troop 10, Girl Scout Troop 659, the Great Neck Junior Alert Firefighters, the Great Neck Chinese Association and more.