Slideshow: Larchmont Memorial Day Parade Was Sunny Smiles the Whole Way

At 6: 40 p.m., in drizzling rain, huddled under umbrellas and store awnings while thunder rumbled overhead, everyone in Larchmont had the same question in mind: Was the parade still on?

"Of course!" said hopeful Lt. Rigano of the Larchmont Police Department. "It's Memorial Day weekend!"

Then the drizzle did abate, and the parade stepped off at 7 p.m. sharp on Thursday, marching to bagpipes pumping the air with "America the Beautiful."

Leading the way was not one Grand Marshal, but two: Larchmont Police Chief John Poleway, and first-grader Matt Sommer, 6, whose parents won the position for him via a Chatsworth Elementary School fundraiser.

On their heels were local officials such as Larchmont Mayor Josh Mandell, Town of Mamaroneck Supervisor Valerie O'Keeffe and County Legislator Judy Myers.

The parade turned onto Palmer with a band playing "When the Saints Go Marching In." Then everyone made a left onto Larchmont Avenue, where "Anchors Aweigh" had some onlookers marching in place, and ended at the Larchmont Village Hall.

By starting at the train station, opposite Memorial Park (corner of Myrtle Boulevard at Murray Avenue) , both the American Legion Post 347 and the parade honored military who lost their lives in service to our country.

Veterans, bagpipers, bands, scouts,  fire personnel and EMS marched with armed services visiting from NYC's Fleet Week.

Of course, whirring sirens and blaring horns from a string of high-gloss cherry-red fire trucks were also crowd pleasers, as were the free hotdogs, water and lemonade enjoyed at the end of the parade at the Village Firehouse, and the endless games of tag on the lawn.