Balcourt Chosen as Co-Grand Marshal of Memorial Day Parade

Helping to lead 2013 Memorial Day will be 90-year-old Port Washington icon Ed Balcourt.

Chosen as co-grand marshal of the annual parade by American Legion Post 509, the colorful Balcourt has served his country and community honorably in various ways through the years.

Born in Brooklyn in 1922, Balcourt left medical school in 1943 and enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II. After basic training in Ft. Dix, the young soldier was sent overseas as a replacement in the 21st Reconnaissance Unit, part of the Americal Division.

For two years, Balcourt saw combat action in the Solomon Islands and Bougainville. After recovering from malaria, he finished his enlistment with the Special Services and Entertainment Group, helping to stage USO shows for the troops. 

Returning home, Balcourt was married and had three sons. He completed studies at Pratt Institute and entered into the field of illustrating.

"I remember that my first payment for art was when I was on a ship being transferred from one island to another in the Pacific," Balcourt told Illustration Magazine in an article. "I was sketching and one of the sailors came over and asked if I could sketch his girlfriend and that he would pay me for it. I sketched from a photo on a sheet of paper and he gave me two dollars."

For more than four decades, the talented artist worked on paperback covers, magazines and movie posters, He has been described as a "living legend" in the field of illustration.

Balcourt currently teaches art at the local senior center and is a member of the American Legion Post 509.

The Port Veterans of Foreign Wars selected Peter Ripullone, a decorated soldier and architect as co-grand marshal of this year’s Memorial Day Parade.

On May 27 at 10 a.m., the Port Washington Memorial Day Parade will begin on Port Washington Blvd. before continuing down Main St. to the John Philip Sousa Memorial Bandshell in Sunset Park.