Neil Brogan of New Hyde Park was installed for his second year as president of the Nassau County Parade and Drill Team Captains Association at the 35th Annual Installation and Award Banquet. The event took place at the North Lindenhurst Fire Department headquarters on Nov. 19.

Other officers seated were Kevin Candido, Hempstead, and Edward Nau, Oceanside, vice presidents; Ray Ryan, Port Washington, sergeant at arms; Marcelle Schemerhorn, Manhasset-Lakeville, recording secretary; John Fuerst, New Hyde Park, treasurer; Susan Lund, Elmont, financial and corresponding secretary; and Jay Podolski, Roslyn, junior past president.

Michael Ward, area vice president of the New York State Drill Captains Association, officiated at the installation.

Another highlight of the program was the presentation of special awards. James "Mootsie" Thomas of Syosset, who continues to be an active racing member after more than five decades, received a life membership in the New York State Drill Team Captains Association. An Honorary Chief of the Syosset Fire Department, Mr. Thomas is an ex-captain and a member of many state and local Firemanic associations. He continues to run in three events with the department's Drill Team.

Ex-Captain Joseph Marturano of Merrick received the Garry Kyle Memorial Life Member Award from the Nassau County Drill Captains. Life membership awards also honored ex-Chief Donald R. Mauersberger of Freeport and Ralph Fraile of Hempstead, longtime firefighters and Drill Team members.

Nicholas Paolucci of North Massapequa, immediate past president of the Nassau County Parade Officials, received a plaque honoring his years of service to that organization.

The dinner also included the awarding of numerous trophies for the 2004 Parade and Drill season. For the fifth consecutive year the Woodlanders of the Rockville Centre Woodlands Company won the trophy as New York State Old Fashioned Champions. They were also honored for holding the state record in Efficiency Replacement (21.34 seconds).

The Hempstead Yellow Hornets received a trophy for winning the state record in Motor Hose Class C (12.07 seconds).

The Floral Park Doodlebugs Drill Team won the Executive Board Trophy for Sportsmanship and the South Hempstead Westerners received the Executive Board Trophy for Most Improved Team.

The top five winners in Motorized Events during the 2004 Drill season were the Hempstead Yellow Hornets, 122.0 points; New Hyde Park Termites, 93.5 points; Manhasset-Lakeville Minutemen, 87.5 points; South Hempstead Rascals, 33.0 points; and Oyster Bay Fire Company #1's Teddy's Boys, 29.0 points.

The top five finishers in Old Fashioned competitions during the season were Rockville Centre's Woodlanders, 159.0 points; Freeport Engine Company #1 Wide Awakes, 113.0 points; Freeport Hose Company#1 Nighthawks, 106.5 points; Floral Park Doodlebugs, 36.0 points; Plainview's Plainsmen 35.5 points.

The Freeport Fire Department won the Past Presidents Memorial Trophy for Best Overall during the parade season and the department also took home the Freeport FD Memorial Trophy for Class AAA. East Rockaway took the North Bellmore FD Memorial Trophy for Class AA. North Merrick received the Ex-Chief Raymond Johnson Trophy for Class A.

Freeport also won the James Dawson Memorial Trophy for Best Fire Department Musical Unit. The Jack Miller Trophy went to Lynbrook for the Best Appearing Junior Fire Department.

Carle Place's Frogs took the Drill Team Parade Trophy for Best Appearing Drill Team. The Ladies Parade Trophy went to North Merrick for the Best Appearing Ladies Auxiliary.

The Chiefs, Officers and Members of the North Merrick FD Trophy for Best Commercial Musical Unit went to the Lindenhurst Brass Band.

The Hempstead Yellow Hornets took home 12 awards for the Drill season. The Hornets won the Angelo Riccardo Trophy for Motor Class B and the Richard "Monk" Schriefer Trophy for 3-Man Ladder.

The Hornets also received the Nassau County Trophy and the Alverda C. Mueller Cup, both for first place in total county points; the Herb Ninseling Trophy for Motor Pump; the Mike Monesi/Kenneth Kumpl-Termites World Trade Center - September 11, 2001 Trophy for Hose Events; the Donald "Bumpy" Bray Trophy for B Truck Events; the Scott Laverty Memorial Trophy for Motor Hook and Ladder Class B; the Christian Martens Trophy for Buckets; the Nassau County Past Presidents Trophy for County Drill Winner; the East Meadow Trophy for Non-Motorized Events, and the trophy in honor of Bob Larson and the Officers and Members of the Roslyn Highlands Fire Department.

The Manhasset-Lakeville Minutemen won the East Meadow Trophy for Motor Hook and Ladder Class C; the Kenneth J. Lund Trophy for Motor Hose Class C; and the High Tune Automotive Trophy for Combined B and C Truck Events.

The Emanuel Girella Trophy for Efficiency went to the South Hempstead Rascals and the Nassau County Executive Board Trophy for Second Place, total county points, was won by the New Hyde Park Termites.

The Rockville Centre Woodlands won the Robert Pryor Memorial Trophy for Old Fashioned Total Points.