For the year 2002, the Glen Cove Memorial Day Parade committee has chosen Frank A. Pecorelli as its honoree.

Frank was born on March 8, 1925 and was raised in Corona, Queens. He graduated from Manhattan Aviation High School.

On February 22, 1942 he enlisted with the Marine Corps and turned 18 while in boot camp at Parris Island. Six weeks later Frank was assigned to the 1st Marine Division Amphibious.

On August 9, 1942 at 0900 hours, the 5th Division, followed by the 1st Division, landed on Guadalcanal. Five days later the Japanese airfield was taken and renamed Henderson Field in honor of Major Lofton Henderson.

On December 9, 1942 the 1st Marine Division was sent to Australia for rehabilitation.

Frank was then moved in with the 5th and 4th Amphibious Divisions. On February 19, 1945 under Lieutenant General "Howlin' Mad" Smith the amphibious force landed on Iwo Jima, which was quickly called Sulfur Island due to all the volcanic ash. As the days went by Frank was assigned to help load the wounded aboard L.C.T.'s. While on Red Beach #1 Frank and friends saw a small American flag go up on Mount Suribachi, and everybody cheered.

On March 16, 1945 the island was secured. Frank said a day to remember was April 1, 1945. Frank found himself on Easter morning on an island called Okinawa on Red Beach #2. "There was no outburst of gunfire from Japanese batteries, but after the fifth day we realized the war was still on. Then on June 22, 1945 word came down that the island was secured," said Frank

During the days ahead Frank was getting ready for a landing in Tokyo Bay, but then on August 6, 1945 the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Frank's enlistment was up and he was sent to Shanghai, China and from there sent home in 1946.

Frank joined the New York Police Department on January 1, 1954. As time went by Frank moved to Glen Cove with his wife Dolores, son Gary and daughter Renee. Both of his children attended Glen Cove High School.

In April 1987, Frank's wife died and that year, at the age of 68, he retired after 33 1/2 years with the NYC police department. He retired with the rank of detective.

Frank is an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 347, the Globe and Anchor Marine Corps Post 225 and the American Legion Post 962.