Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal Mike Long appears in full uniform as a member of the Marines in this 1958 photo.

By Paula Katinas

Bay Ridge — Mike Long was just 18 years old when he joined the U.S. Marine Corps in the late 1950s. Today, more than 50 years later, Long is preparing to be the Grand Marshal of the Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade, the oldest continually run Memorial Day march in the country.
“I was proud, but humbled by the honor,” Long said, referring to the parade committee asking him to lead their parade.
Long, who is perhaps best known as the chairman of the New York State Conservative Party and as one of the most respected political minds on the scene, was once a youngster looking up in awe at the military heroes returning home from World War II.
“I’m old enough to remember the end of World War II. I saw my uncle come home from the war. He was a Marine. From that moment on, I wanted to be a Marine. I guess he made an impression on me,” Long said.
Eighteen-year-old Mike Long, who grew up in East New York, realized his dream when he signed up for the Marines, going through boot camp at Parris Island.
“Basic training instills character in you. You learn teamwork and responsibility. You learn that if you make a mistake, it could cost your fellow Marines their lives. It makes you more well-rounded and secure,” he said.
Long was stationed in Okinawa for 15 months. He also served in the Philippines and came away from his time there with the memory of a lifetime. read more »