West Babylon 13-year-old to lead Memorial Day parade

West Babylon Junior High School student Kyra Duke took all... — West Babylon Junior High School student Kyra Duke took all her research on West Babylon alumni killed while serving in the military and created large framed displays for the soldiers. Each one has a photo, their birth and death dates and where they were killed, their hometown and the year they graduated high school, along with etchings for those killed in the Vietnam War. She donated the project to American Legion Sgt. John Sardiello Post 1634 in West Babylon. Credit: Duke family

By Denise M. Bonilladenise.bonilla@newsday.comMay 26, 2016

A Memorial Day parade in West Babylon will feature one of the youngest grand marshals it’s ever had leading the way.

The parade, held by West Babylon’s American Legion Sgt. John Sardiello Post 1634, will be led by Kyra Duke, a 13-year-old from West Babylon.

Last year Duke spotted a West Babylon High School plaque honoring former students who died while serving in the United States military. Duke became inspired to learn more about the eight men named on the plaque and began a months-long effort to research and find photos of the men.

She put together a project with large framed displays—even adding in another West Babylon man who died during the Korean War before the school was built—and presented it to the American Legion post on Veterans Day. Duke made of copy of the display and took it to various school, government and veterans events.

The parade, which is open to all West Babylon and Deer Park residents, will take place on Monday, kicking off at 9:30 a.m. at Arnold Avenue and Route 109 in West Babylon and ending at the American Legion post at 10 Bruce St.

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